Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Arraignment is expected to continue Friday for the suspect in the Baldwin Park shooting that killed two men, including a police officer, and the wounding of two other officers.

Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, was charged with two counts of murder in the first degree, two counts of premeditated attempted murder and one count of possessing an assault weapon.

Medina was additionally charged with special circumstances, including murder for financial gain, murder of a peace officer engaged in duties, personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, and multiple murders.

Proceedings were held in Department N of Pomona Superior Court June 5 and are expected to be held again Friday, June 6.

Medina is accused of murdering Baldwin Park Police officer Samuel Riveros and 43-year-old Darius Wong.

Medina is accused of attempted murder against Baldwin Park officer Anthony Pimentel and officer Alfredo Leal.

Pimentel was apparently wounded by flying shards of glass launched by bullets intended to kill him. Leal was struck by gunfire, Hochman said.

“Sam was a dedicated officer who represented our department with dignity and honor. In the face of danger, Sam selflessly put the safety of others before his own and gave his life doing so,” said Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez.

Wong, a Hacienda Heights resident, dropped off his wife, two daughters and sister-in-law at a family party and sought parking nearby. He apparently was shot in the back.

Donate to His Gofundme>>

A .223 assault weapon was seized from the scene of the shooting, and 40-60 expended shell casings were also found, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Two high-capacity gun clips were also found at the scene, Chief Luna said, adding that Sheriff’s investigators are determining who owns the weapon and if it was legally purchased.

Officers Pimentel and Leal arrived separately to a reported shooting in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue around 7:12 p.m. May 31 and were fired upon. Both officers returned fire, according to Chief Luna.

Riveros arrived to the scene and was also shot.

Additional officers arrived and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who was finally subdued. Wong was discovered down on a sidewalk and unresponsive. He died at the scene.

The suspect remains hospitalized in stable condition.

The case will undergo a death penalty review, which is expected to last a number of months before prosecutors decide to seek the death penalty, Hochman said.

**********
The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A 22-year-old man accused of killing a Baldwin Park Police officer, wounding his partner and killing another man has been named.

Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen was booked on suspicion of two counts of murder. He is in stable condition at a hospital pending transfer to a jail facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The shooting reportedly stemmed from a dispute over residential parking, according to ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

A housewarming party was underway in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue May 31. Medina allegedly confronted the man, who remains publicly unidentified, only described as a Pasadena man in his 40s.

When the man didn’t park elsewhere, Medina allegedly shot and killed him.

Baldwin Park Police officers Samuel Riveros and Anthony Pimentel went to the scene and were fired upon. Both were struck by gunfire. Riveros would not survive his wounds.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will soon file charges against Medina.

Medina is being held in lieu of $4,000,000 bail.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Investigators named the officer wounded and the officer killed in a May 31 neighborhood shootout.

Officer Samuel Riveros, 35, died after being taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center. Officer Anthony Pimentel, taken to the same hospital, was treated for his injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Pimentel was apparently released from the hospital.

Both officers were met with gunfire after arriving to the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue May 31 around 7:12 p.m. Police were called to a reported victim down and a suspect firing a weapon.

The suspect survived being shot and is recovering at a hospital.

“This is a heartbreaking and deeply devastating tragedy. Officer Riveros made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community. He, along with Officer Pimentel and their fellow officers, bravely responded to a dangerous call, fully aware of the risks involved,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. “Officer Riveros gave his life in service to others, a profound testament to his unwavering dedication to duty and selfless courage.
His loss is profoundly felt—not only by his family and colleagues, but by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement family.”

The suspect’s rifle was recovered at the scene.

The name of the man discovered dead upon the officers’ arrival has yet to be publicly identified.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is leading the investigation into the fatal shooting of a Baldwin Park Police Officer and one other person Saturday.

Officers responded to a report of a man firing a rifle and a person down in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue May 31 came under fire. The arriving officers were met with gunfire. In the chaos the officers were struck while firing back, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

“Other officers immediately went to their assistance. An officer-involved shooting did occur at that time,” Luna said in a midnight press conference.

Backup officers arrived and apparently also fired upon the suspect.

An as-of-yet unidentified victim was dead at the scene.

Fellow Baldwin Park officers frantically packaged the gravely wounded officer to a waiting ambulance, which then handed him off to a Sheriff’s helicopter to take him to Los Angeles General Medical Center where he eventually died. The other wounded officer is still being treated.

Investigators believe the weapon used by the suspect in the shootings has been recovered.

It is unclear if the suspect is tied to the spate of shootings that have plagued Baldwin Park recently.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - One police officer was killed, another remains hospitalized after exchanging gunfire with a suspect Saturday evening.

Three sources reported to the Los Angeles Times newspaper of the officer’s death.

One other person was wounded in the shooting, and this person has since been taken into custody, according to Fox 11 news.

First responders were sent to the location on Filhurst Street south of Los Angeles Street in Baldwin Park around 7:16 p.m. Saturday, May 31.

One of the wounded officers Was flown by sheriffs helicopter to Los Angeles General Medical Center, the other was taken by a ground ambulance, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

It is not yet clear why Baldwin Park Police officers first responded to the location.

The city has been plagued by an increase in gun violence lately, according to Baldwin Park News Online, a local news website which has closely followed the unfolding gun violence, including a shooting that occurred earlier Saturday.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A suspect was arrested Tuesday by officers serving an arrest and search warrant, an operation that revealed explosive materials inside his residence.

Homes in the 4000 block of Walnut Street were evacuated as a precaution after the discovery of “explosive-type components and materials in the residence.” The suspect was taken into custody, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The suspect was arrested, accused of possession of components to an explosive device.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail arrived to assist with securing and disposing of the explosive materials.

The suspect’s name was not publicly released.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A juvenile bicyclist is recovering Wednesday, having been struck by a Baldwin Park Police officer vehicle.

The officer was stopped at a red light at Pacific Avenue and Vineland Avenue when the officer witnessed a speeding vehicle that was driven through the intersection against a red light. With the green light, the officer completed a left turn and struck the bicyclist who was in the crosswalk, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The collision occurred just before 7 a.m. May 14.

“The officer immediately rendered and requested medical aid, and remained with the juvenile until the arrival of the Los Angeles County Fire Department,” according to the Baldwin Park Police Department in a written statement.

The speeding driver fled the scene.

The California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office is investigating the collision. Anyone who witnessed the collision is urgent to call 626-338-1164.

Baldwin Park police officers are attempting to identify the speeding driver. Any witnesses to the reckless driver or urged to call the Baldwin Park Police Department at 626-960-1955.

Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A trash dumpster provided a paltry hiding spot for a man who fled officers after allegedly brandishing a weapon May 1.

Multiple witnesses reported an armed man near the offramp to the I-10 freeway at Puente Avenue around 7:48 a.m. Thursday. The man fled from arriving California Highway Patrol officers and sought refuge inside of a dumpster, according to the CHP Baldwin Park office.

Officers from the CHP, Baldwin Park and West Covina Police departments surrounded the dumpster at a nearby McDonalds, 14530 Baldwin Park Towne Center. After more than one hour, the suspect surrendered, according to the CHP.

A replica handgun was recovered and the suspect was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - The teacher accused of forcing a middle school to evacuate after causing a disturbance May 1 can expect to face criminal charges.

The teacher allegedly entered Olive Middle School, 13701, Olive St., around 9:45 a.m. Thursday and made threats inside the main office. Administrators evacuated all students and staff as a precaution, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The teacher at one point was in communication with officers, but then barricaded herself in the office and refused commands to exit. It wasn’t until 9:30 p.m. that the teacher was removed from the class by officers when negotiators failed to have her peacefully exit.

“The investigation remains ongoing, and the individual will be criminally charged upon release from the hospital,” according to the Baldwin Park Police Department in a written statement.

The department did not specify what type of criminal charges the teacher would face. The type of threats she allegedly made is not publicly known.

A woman identifying herself as Veronica Renee Madere posted videos and images on Instagram of her ordeal. She appeared to be suffering a mental health crisis due to the nonsensical content of her videos.

Madere is a sixth grade teacher at Olive Middle School.

Madere took a picture of her handwritten resignation letter and asked that $20 million tax free be deposited into not only hers, but into the account of every classified and certificated employee, declaring everyone at the school officially retired. She also made claims that the school kills children and that her daughter was captive, but there are copies of her daughter and doesn’t know which is the real one.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Crisis negotiators and Baldwin Park Police officers are attempting to bring a peaceful resolution to a barricade that began early Thursday morning.

Students and staff at Olive Middle School were evacuated and taken to a nearby campus where the students were released to their parents and guardians. Out of an abundance of caution, classes at Olive Middle School are canceled for Friday, May 2.

It is unclear if crisis negotiators or police have maintained contact with the woman barricaded inside the school.

Authorities described the woman as an employee of the school.

CityWatch readers provided this reporter an Instagram account from a woman who identifies herself as Veronica Madere, who is a sixth grade teacher at Olive Middle School.

The woman, appears to be suffering a mental health crisis. She very calmly said in her video:

“They have me hostage here at Olive Middle school and my daughter at Edgewood Middle School … if it really is her. I don’t know. They make copies here. They like to kill children over here. Because they’re assholes and they like to rip out your heart. I’m in Baldwin Park. I don’t even know if that’s my daughter.”

She went on to make multiple other posts throughout the day, including a picture of a resignation letter handwritten to the school district and asked for $20 million to be direct deposited into the accounts of every classified and certificated employee.