A known gang member with a long history of violent crimes accused of shooting and killing a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy could have ended up in prison if not for a moderation policy from the area’s top prosecutor. said the election opponent.
On April 22, Raymundo Duran, 47, is accused of shooting Deputy Samuel Aispuro in the back while he was sitting on a marked sheriff’s motorcycle at a traffic light in West Covina, Calif., on two counts of murder. He has been involved in many violent crimes, including felonies. The assault was committed while he was serving an 11-year sentence for manslaughter, according to court records.
Aispuro, a nearly 20-year veteran of the department, survived the unprovoked attack because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
In 2021, Duran was arrested on charges of hit-and-run, resisting arrest, and fleeing a police officer after leading authorities on a car and foot pursuit. Authorities say they were forced to ram Duran’s car before he briefly fled the scene.
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Raymundo Duran, 47, is accused of fatally shooting a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy on April 22nd. In 2021, he was involved in a police pursuit in a white car. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department | KTTV)
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón (D) could have sent Mr. Duran to prison, but Mr. Gascón’s election challenger said he was sentenced to probation as part of a plea deal.
“Raimundo Duran is, by all accounts, a sociopath who has committed violent acts after violent acts for decades,” said Nathan Duran, a former federal prosecutor who ran as an independent candidate to oust Gascón. Hochman told FOX News Digital. “Unfortunately, the sentence he received did not deter him from further acts of violence.”
“Therefore, Mr. George Gascón decided to negotiate with Mr. Duran and choose the lowest possible sentence given the opportunity to avoid victimizing others,” it added.
Gascón has faced harsh criticism from prosecutors, law enforcement and elected officials over his progressive criminal justice policies.
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Jason Lustig said prosecutor morale has suffered after nearly four years under his boss.
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Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón (right) has been criticized after gang members allegedly shot and killed a sheriff’s deputy at a red light in West Covina, California. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department | Getty Images)
“Everyone is really fed up with that,” he told FOX News Digital. “We have a front row seat to see more victims. We see it every day.”
At the time of his arrest in 2021, Duran was a four-time convicted felon and wanted for a parole violation. He was convicted of domestic violence in 1996. In 2002, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for stabbing his boss to death at a Jiffy Lube as part of a plea deal, Hochman noted.
In 2003, a year after his sentence began, Duran assaulted a guard at Salinas Valley State Prison. He pleaded no contest in Monterey County Superior Court, according to court records.
On November 9, 2009, Duran stabbed another prisoner with a makeshift knife called a “shank.” He pleaded guilty to assaulting a prisoner in a manner likely to cause serious injury and was sentenced to an additional four years.
“We have a front row seat to see more victims. We see it every day.”
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department motorcycle is pictured at the scene of a shooting death of a deputy in West Covina, California, on April 22. (KTTV)
After his release, he violated his parole and was arrested in February 2022 for illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. The crime was punishable by six years in prison, but prosecutors struck a plea deal with Duran, who was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
“Had he actually received a six-year prison sentence in 2021, he would not have been in the position to fire his gun at the deputy in West Covina,” Hockman said.
FOX News Digital has reached out to Gascon’s office.
Duran, who was driving a 2008 Toyota Camry, was arrested in San Diego County hours after the ambush shooting. He is charged with attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, assault on a peace officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
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“The senseless and unfounded shooting of Deputy Samuel Aispuro was a stark reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face every day,” Gascón said days after the shooting. “Our office is committed to vigorously prosecuting the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law. We look forward to supporting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Aispur as they recover from this tragic incident. I wish you all the best.”
