35-year veteran Jose Vega [left], 63, who had seven other children in addition to Vanessa, and fellow officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, [right], who was just back from maternity leave were shot and killed by John Felix in 2016 while responding to a call
John Hernandez Felix, flanked by his attorneys, John Patrick Dolan, left, and Kelli McDowell, before sentencing is handed down by Judge Anthony Villalobos on Aug 30
‘You can’t sufficiently sentence him for what he has done,’ she said.
‘You’re gonna be sitting in that cage for a long time,’ Zerebny’s father, David Kling, told the killer. ‘My only message to you is, ‘I hope you burn in hell, Felix.” Vega was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire within a year and Zerebny was a new mother. Felix shot the officers on October 8, 2016, when they responded to a domestic dispute.
He fired 21 shots during a 12-hour standoff as he barricaded himself inside the home, killing two and injuring several others. Felix was arrested over 12 hours later when SWAT team members fired teargas into the home in which he barricaded himself.
Vega, 63, was fatally shot along with fellow officer Zerebny, 27, who had just returned from maternity leave and had a four-month old daughter.
Vega left behind a wife and eight children, of which Vanessa is the youngest. He had plans to retire in December after 35 years in the force.
Vega was working overtime when he was killed.

John Hernandez Felix [left] confers with his attorney Michael Rowlands in the Indio Larson Justice Center on five days after he shot the officers in Oct. 2016
Prosecuting attorney Manny Busatamante holds the gun used to kill officers Palm Springs officers Zerebny and Vega during closing arguments during John Felix’s trial at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, in May 2019
Felix was convicted of first-degree murder in May, 2019 for shooting the two officers to death in a premeditated plan to lure police to his parents’ home and open fire. He also was convicted of attempted murder for shooting at six other officers and three firearms violations.
Jurors deliberated just a few hours before reaching their verdict, recommending Felix be put to death for his crimes.
Leave a Reply