A 27-year-old man, Steven Zapata, has been charged with the murder of an Alhambra Police Officer, Alec Sanders, and a woman named Gabriela Moreno following a vehicle pursuit that tragically ended in a collision last week. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman expressed his devastation over the incident, saying, "I am absolutely heartbroken by this devastating incident that claimed the life of Officer Alec Sanders," in a statement shared by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The defendant, if convicted as charged, is facing a sentence of 80 to 120 years to life in prison.
The allegations include two felony counts of murder, one felony count of reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury, and two felony counts of fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle causing death. The pursuit occurred on November 20 at around 3 a.m., and it is believed that Zapata was driving a stolen vehicle. He is accused of having deliberately led police on the pursuit, which resulted in a crash into Officer Sanders' police cruiser, and claimed his life as well as that of Moreno, one of Zapata's passengers. Another passenger, a 52-year-old male, was also seriously injured during the incident.
Zapata's arraignment is scheduled for a later date. California Highway Patrol Chief Chris Margaris extended his deep condolences and remarked on the commitment to justice, saying, "His service and sacrifice will not be forgotten. We also mourn the loss of Gabriela Moreno and offer our thoughts to her family. We are proud of the diligent work our detectives and investigative partners have done on this case, and we remain committed to supporting the Alhambra Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office in seeking justice in their honor."
