Man, 20, and boy, 17, arrested for ‘killing off-duty officer in gym parking lot’

US
By James

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Two people have been arrested for allegedly killing an off-duty police officer in a California gym parking lot after shooting him multiple times as he tried to escape. 

Newly-minted Police Officer Gardiel Solorio, 26, was fatally shot five times outside of an LA Fitness in Downey, allegedly by Carlos Delcid, 20, on Monday. The off-duty officer was sitting in his car when the shooting occurred and he hit a parked van while trying to back up his vehicle to escape at around 4pm. 

Authorities do not believe Solorio was targeted for being a cop. He graduated from the Sherriff’s Academy in July.

The Los Angeles DA, George Gascon, said at a press conference that Delcid had exited a car nearby and approached Solorio in what appeared to be an ‘attempted robbery.’

‘Officer Solorio attempted to flee by backing out of his vehicle when the suspect fired multiple times,’ Gascon said. After allegedly killing the officer, Delcid fled back to the car and left the scene with a 17-year-old getaway driver, whose identity has not been released. 

Delcid has been charged with murder with a special circumstances enhancement attached to it, as well as, attempted robbery and possession of a firearm as a felon. 

The LA DA’s Office is seeking life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Gardiel Solorio, 26, was fatally shot five times outside of an LA Fitness in Downey by a career criminal, who has been arrested three times in the last eight months. The off-duty officer was sitting in his car when the shooting occurred and authorities believe he was not targeted

Gardiel Solorio, 26, was fatally shot five times outside of an LA Fitness in Downey by a career criminal, who has been arrested three times in the last eight months. The off-duty officer was sitting in his car when the shooting occurred and authorities believe he was not targeted

Carlos Delcid, 20, (pictured) has been charged with murder with a special circumstances enhancement attached on, as well as, attempted robbery and possession of a firearm as a felon. He fled the scene with a 17-year-old getaway driver, who has also been charged

Carlos Delcid, 20, (pictured) has been charged with murder with a special circumstances enhancement attached on, as well as, attempted robbery and possession of a firearm as a felon. He fled the scene with a 17-year-old getaway driver, who has also been charged

Carlos Delcid, 20, (pictured) has been charged with murder with a special circumstances enhancement attached on, as well as, attempted robbery and possession of a firearm as a felon. He fled the scene with a 17-year-old getaway driver, who has also been charged

A large police presence was seen on the scene after the shooting on Monday

A large police presence was seen on the scene after the shooting on Monday

A large police presence was seen on the scene after the shooting on Monday 

The 17-year-old has also been charged, but Gascon did not say if the counts were the same. 

Delcid has been arrested at least three times in the past year, according to ABC 7. 

He was arrested on December 8 for an unknown felony before being released the next day. 

He was then arrested on January 20 for another felony, but was released four days later. 

On February 10, he was arrested again on five counts of domestic violence and convicted of two on March 10 and sentenced to 180 days in jail and four years probation. However, he was released the next day, according to ABC 7. 

Delcid was arrested within hours of the Downey shooting and is currently being held on a $2million bail, according to Fox News.

Solorio’s sister and fiancée also attended the press conference, but did not speak. A family member started a GoFundMe page to help with family travel expensive to attend Solorio’s funeral. It has raised $16,399 and is no longer accepting donations. 

Solorio was the youngest of 13 children and had ‘dreamed of becoming a police officer’ since he was a child, his sister-in-law Wanda Maire Lane Solorio wrote on the GoFundMe. 

Solorio had graduated from the Sherriff's Academy in late July and had only just begun paroling the streets two weeks ago. He was not working at the time of the shooting

Solorio had graduated from the Sherriff's Academy in late July and had only just begun paroling the streets two weeks ago. He was not working at the time of the shooting

Solorio had graduated from the Sherriff’s Academy in late July and had only just begun paroling the streets two weeks ago. He was not working at the time of the shooting 

Candles and flowers have popped up in the LA Fitness parking lot (pictured) to honor the fallen officer, who had dreamed of being a cop since he was a child

Candles and flowers have popped up in the LA Fitness parking lot (pictured) to honor the fallen officer, who had dreamed of being a cop since he was a child

Candles and flowers have popped up in the LA Fitness parking lot (pictured) to honor the fallen officer, who had dreamed of being a cop since he was a child 

Solorio's sister and fiancée (pictured) attended the press conference, but did not speak

Solorio's sister and fiancée (pictured) attended the press conference, but did not speak

Solorio's sister and fiancée (pictured) attended the press conference, but did not speak

Solorio's sister and fiancée (pictured) attended the press conference, but did not speak

Solorio’s sister and fiancée (pictured) attended the press conference, but did not speak

Solorio was the first person in his family to graduate college and the first police officer, Wanda said. 

‘He was and has always been true American success story,’ she wrote. 

‘We all knew from the moment we met him that he had the heart of service and was going to be a great officer,’ Monterey Park Police Department Chief Kelly Gordon told Fox LA.  

Solorio’s funeral is schedule for August 25, and his family will be traveling from Tennessee, Illinois, and Utah and other parts of California for it.  

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