A friend and co-worker was killed in June of this year in Hawaiian Gardens. Some of you may remember the incident:
A Los Angeles County sheriff?s deputy interviewing a woman and a man outside a Hawaiian Gardens apartment was fatally shot Friday when a gunman burst out of the residence, put a handgun to the officer?s face and fired, authorities said.
Sheriff?s deputies fanned out across Hawaiian Gardens late Friday in search of the gunman, who apparently surprised Deputy Jerry Ortiz, 35, as he spoke to the woman in the doorway of her apartment. Authorities said Ortiz probably died instantly.
?This was an assassination of a deputy,? Sheriff Lee Baca said. ?It was a sudden attack that gave the deputy no chance.?
Deputies identified the suspect as Jose Luis Orozco, 27, a parolee wanted on suspicion of attempted murder in another case.
…Ortiz, who had hoped to become a detective soon, had worked for the Sheriff?s Department for 15 years and was known as an extremely hard worker whose job was to penetrate the inner workings of local gangs. The Diamond Bar resident was married two weeks ago to his second wife, Chela. He is also survived by two sons, ages 6 and 16.
Last year, Ortiz won the department?s Medal of Honor after he fatally shot a carjacker who drew a gun on him and his partner, Det. Colin Orpe.
?He was an outstanding person, who would go out of his way to help people,? said Orpe, a longtime friend. ?We?re all mourning,? he said, choking back tears.
The shooting occurred about 3:10 p.m. in the 12200 block of 223rd Street in Hawaiian Gardens, a working-class city at the northeastern border of Long Beach that has long been plagued by gang violence. The town of 14,000 has struggled economically in recent years, luring a casino to help balance its shaky finances.
Ortiz?s body was discovered by residents who heard the gunfire. They tried to aid the deputy and dialed 911, authorities said. Ortiz was working without his longtime partner at the time of the attack.
Undersheriff Larry Waldie said Ortiz had arrived for work early, as he often did, and was so eager to begin his day that he struck out on his own. ?He didn?t want to wait,? Waldie said.
…Baca, who was attending a law enforcement conference in Kentucky, said in a telephone interview that Ortiz had knocked on the door of a residence and begun talking with a woman who answered. Officers said the gunman approached from behind the woman, reached over the shoulder of another man Ortiz was talking to and shot the deputy point-blank in the face. The suspect fled after the shooting.
?He killed a deputy and then ran like the coward he is,? said an emotional Baca. ?This coward is the worst of the worst, and eventually he is going to be caught.?
I blogged about it extensively and still update it with any new “news”.
There is now a fundraiser going on in collaboration with the Thomas Kincaid Galleries.
The Thomas Kincaid Galleries and The Sheriff’s Department have partnered in a fundrasing effort to benefit the wife of Jerry Ortiz and his two sons, Jacob and Jeremy. From now through October 29, 2005, with the purchase of limited edition canvas, a $100 donation will be made to the family in your name. The purchase can be made at any of the four galleries listed below:
LONG BEACH TOWNE CENTER (562) 425-6671
QUEEN MARY (562) 499-6678
CHINO GALLERY (909) 902-5219
MONTCLAIR GALLERY (909) 626-2403This promotion will culminate with an event at the Queen Mary, Grand Salon, 1126 Queen’s Highway, Long Beach on October 29th, beginning at 7:00pm. Approximately 50 art pieces will be displayed and available for sale. A free drawing will be held for one piece and a personally autographed painting will be auctioned at the event.
If you have ever thought about buying a Kincaid piece, now is the time. Please help if you can.
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