A Los Angeles man who carried out a violent attack inside the LAPD's Harbor Station in San Pedro has been sentenced to 33 years in state prison, closing the book on a case the judge called “mind-boggling.” Judge Debra Cole told the defendant in a Long Beach courtroom that his actions left “devastating consequences” for officers and their families.
According to MyNewsLA, 34-year-old Jose Cerpa Guzman pleaded no contest on March 23 to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer, along with one count each of second-degree robbery and evading a peace officer. As part of the deal, two attempted murder counts were dismissed. Deputy District Attorney Geoff Lewin told the court that “no one knows why he did this to this day.” MyNewsLA reports that Guzman has remained in custody since his 2020 arrest and was found competent to stand trial after multiple mental competency proceedings.
Harbor Station Assault Caught on Camera
The attack unfolded on Sept. 26, 2020, at the LAPD Harbor Station at 2175 John S. Gibson Blvd. Prosecutors said Guzman first walked into the station lobby, left, then came back and suddenly attacked a desk officer. According to body camera and security footage, he wrestled away the officer’s service pistol and pistol-whipped him in the lobby. A watch commander then exchanged gunfire with Guzman as he fled, and the suspect was captured after a short pursuit, details that were later outlined in a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office press release.
Aftermath and Oversight
Among the officers who chased and detained Guzman was Officer Frank Partida, who helped subdue the suspect during the arrest. The Los Angeles Times later reported that Partida “died Sunday from COVID-19 complications.” The LAPD’s civilian Police Commission went on to review the takedown and some of the force used during Guzman’s capture. That outside review, combined with the series of competency hearings, helped stretch the case from the 2020 attack to this week’s sentencing.
Court Notes
The plea agreement kept the assault and robbery counts in place while dropping the two attempted murder charges, a trade that prosecutors said would secure a prompt resolution after years of legal and mental health proceedings. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office had originally charged Guzman with attempted murder and multiple weapons counts, noting he could have faced life in prison if convicted as initially charged. As reported by MyNewsLA, Lewin told the court that even after years of investigation, prosecutors still do not have a clear motive for the Harbor Station assault.
