| For Immediate Release January 29, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 |
THIRD STRIKER GANG MEMBERS TO BE TRIED
FOR SHOOTING AND ATTEMPTING TO MURDER
FOUR POLICE OFFICERS
SANTA ANA – Two third strikers, who are members of a Los Angeles criminal street gang, will be tried for shooting and trying to murder four Orange County police officers after a routine traffic stop. Andrew Richard Gonzalez, 30, Inglewood, and David Mosqueda, 32, Los Angeles, are charged with four counts of premeditated attempted murder of a peace officer, four counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, street terrorism, possession of a firearm with prior robbery or assault convictions, being a gang member carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of firearm by a felon, and for being an active gang member having a concealed firearm.
Gonzalez faces sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, the personal discharge of a firearm, the personal use of firearm, two 1996 robbery strike convictions, and a recent prison prior. Mosqueda faces sentencing enhancements for the vicarious discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury by a gang member, a gang member vicariously discharging a firearm, for being vicariously armed with a firearm, and two 1992 assault with a firearm convictions.
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of multiple life terms. Jury selection is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On April 11, 2005, La Habra Police Department officers pulled over the defendants in a routine traffic stop. Mosqueda was the driver. Gonzalez is accused of retrieving a gun, opening the passenger side door, and shooting and wounding the two officers. While back-up units responded, Gonzalez is accused of fleeing into a nearby strip mall and confronting two Fullerton Police Department officers. Gonzalez fired his weapon several times at the officers but missed.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jerry Schaffer of the Gang Unit is prosecuting this case.
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