Death sentence for cop killer John Felix who gunned down Palm Springs police officers Jose Vega and new mom, Lesley Zerebny, with an AR-15 in 2016
Families of two murdered cops tell their killer to ‘rot in hell’ as he is sentenced to death for gunning them down with an AR-15
Jose Vega, 63, was shot and killed by John Hernandez Felix, on a disturbance call in October 2016
Vega a married father-of-eight was a 35-year veteran ready to retire in a few months
Officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, was also killed
Zerebny had just returned to patrol duty from maternity leave after giving birth and left behind a then-four-month-old daughter
In 2018, Felix was found guilty of two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder of the other officers who also attended the disturbance call
They death penalty was recommended and he was sentenced to 368 years to life for the murders
‘[Felix], is a dog, so put him down like one,’ said a family member who asked the judge to send the defendant to the chair
John Felix [photo], 26, was sentenced to death Friday for the ‘planned and calculated’ killings of two Palm Springs police officers during a standoff in 2016. He was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder, in 2018
John Hernandez Felix gunned down Officers Jose ‘Gil’ Vega and Lesley Zerebny and injured several others using an AR-15 rifle when they responded to his home on a domestic violence call in 2016.
‘Mr. Felix, there’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said,’ the judge said as Felix sat in silence.
‘Your calloused actions ruined many lives. I hope that what little was done here today will bring some peace to these families,’ the Desert Sun reported.
In 2018, Felix was found guilty of two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder of the other officers.
They death penalty was recommended and he was sentenced to 368 years to life for the murders. ‘I hope he suffers,’ Zerebny’s sister, Britta Kling, said in court while asking the judge to uphold the jury’s recommendation, the Desert Sun reported. She called Felix a dog and asked the judge to put him down like one.
![Jose Vega [left], and Lesley Zerebny, [right] 1](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Jose-Vega-left-and-Lesley-Zerebny-right-1.jpg?resize=620%2C607&ssl=1)
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’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.
Share this:
Copyright © 2023
Leave a Reply