DA George Gascón Recall Gains Momentum as Freed Felon Kills California Cops

The killing of two El Monte, California, police officers by a felon released on parole under Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón's policies has further incensed those looking to recall the embattled DA this November.

Justin Flores, 35, shot and killed Corporal Michael Paredes, 22, and Officer Joseph Santana, 31, during a shootout Tuesday. The two officers responded to a report of domestic violence between a boyfriend and girlfriend and a possible stabbing at the Siesta Inn Motel. The shooting suspect's wife was also at the motel.

Police said the officers were "essentially ambushed." Flores also died during the confrontation. No other injuries were reported.

Justin Flores' Criminal History

Flores had served two terms for burglary and car theft in 2009 before being sent back to prison in 2011 for first-degree burglary. In 2020, he was arrested and charged with possessing methamphetamine, a handgun and ammunition.

But because of a special directive Gascón had enacted on his first day in office, barring strike allegations, prosecutors dropped additional charges after Flores pleaded no contest in 2021 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. That left him sentenced to only two years' probation and 20 days in jail. (A strike offense makes suspects charged with later crimes eligible for harsher sentences.)

While Gascón's policy prohibiting prosecutors from seeking sentencing enhancement under the state's three-strikes law was ruled illegal by the California 2nd District Court of Appeal, organizers behind the campaign to recall him say the damage to victims and their families has already been done. Tuesday's incident only adds fuel to the existing fury surrounding Gascón's criminal justice reform efforts.

"There's no one event or thing that is going to push us over the top," said Tim Lineberger, spokesperson for the Recall George Gascón campaign. He confirmed to Newsweek that the necessary 567,000 signatures required to get the recall on a November ballot have been obtained.

"Sadly, these horrific stories have been coming out for a year and a half, and when they do it certainly increases engagement. It's sad that we have to do this at all," Lineberger said.

His comments came as Santana's mother and sister were seen interviewed on local news channels about the officers' shooting.

"To everyone else this is just a news story, but to us this is real life," Santana's sister Bianca told Los Angeles' KTTV, speaking through tears.

Why Wasn't He In Jail?

In a statement sent to Newsweek, Ricardo Santiago, a spokesman for Gascón's office, said the sentence Flores received in the firearm case "was consistent with case resolutions for this type of offense given his criminal history and the nature of the offense."

"Mr. Flores was convicted of burglarizing his grandparents' home more than 10 years ago, resulting in a strike. He was arrested in 2020 and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of narcotics for personal use. Last year, Mr. Flores pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony," Santiago said. "At the time the court sentenced him, Mr. Flores did not have a documented history of violence."

Still, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Shea Sanna told Newsweek the shooting never should have happened because Flores should have been behind bars.

He noted that Flores, a felon and gang member with a prior conviction, should have received, at minimum, 16 months in jail, and with the strike, that time would have been doubled.

"We have a three-strikes law. Whether he agrees with it, it's there," Sanna said, referring to Gascón. "All these people before him passed these laws for a reason but his blanket policies tell prosecutors to not enforce the law."

"George Gascón ignores all the laws and gives him probation, and because of that two cops are dead," Sanna added.