Condenado a pena de muerte un hispano que asesinó a dos policías en California

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Un hispano acusado de la muerte en 2016 de dos policías con un rifle de asalto en una ciudad turística del sur de California, John Félix Hernández, fue condenado este viernes a la pena de muerte por un juez estadounidense.

El latino, de 26 años, había sido hallado culpable en mayo por el jurado de la muerte de los agentes José Gilbert Vega, de 63 años y veterano con 35 de servicio próximo a jubilarse, y Lesley Zerebny, de 27 años, que contaba con año y medio en el cuerpo.

"Espero que se queme en el infierno", espetó en alusión a Hernández David Kling, padre de Zerebny, la agente policial que tenía una bebé de 4 meses cuando fue asesinada.

Isaac Vega, hijo del policía hispano asesinado, argumentó por su parte durante la lectura de la sentencia que la pena de muerte es necesaria para mostrar a las personas que no pueden atacar impunemente a las fuerzas del orden.

El jurado que declaró culpable a Hernández de dos cargos de asesinato en primer grado con agravantes, así como del intento de asesinato de seis agentes más, entre otros delitos, había recomendado la pena de muerte.

Por tratarse de un caso de asesinato en primer grado, la decisión final sobre la sentencia recayó en manos del juez Anthony Villalobos, de la Corte Superior de Riverside, quien siguió la recomendación del jurado.

La condena a la pena capital tiene una apelación automática, por lo que el abogado de Hernández anunció que la presentará dentro de los próximos 60 días.

Adicionalmente, por otros cargos de los 11 por los que había sido declarado culpable, el condenado recibió un total de 368 años en la cárcel como mínimo y un máximo de cadena perpetua.

Como han hecho durante tres años desde el asesinato, miembros de la Policía de Palm Springs, donde ocurrió el crimen, y de otras agencias de la ley, escoltaron el pasado miércoles a Vanessa Vega, hija de su compañero asesinado "Gil" Vega, a su primer día de escuela, esta vez para iniciar el séptimo grado.

El 8 de octubre de 2016, la Policía atendió una llamada de emergencia por un altercado familiar en una casa de Palm Springs. Mientras entablaban negociaciones, Félix Hernández abrió fuego, acabó con la vida de los dos agentes y dejó herido a un tercero, que sobrevivió.

Tras el ataque, el agresor se atrincheró en la vivienda, lo que llevó a un equipo de operaciones especiales (SWAT) del Condado de Riverside a establecer un perímetro alrededor de la casa y, como resultado de un intercambio de fuego, seis policías resultaron heridos.

Doce horas después, John Félix Hernández salió con las manos en alto, vestido con un chaleco antibalas y con municiones de alto calibre, según informaron las autoridades.

Source: elperiodico.com, Staff, August 31, 2019

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