Multiple felony charges, including two counts of murder with special circumstances and two counts of attempted murder, have been filed against Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, of Baldwin Park, after a weekend shooting on Filhurst Avenue left Baldwin Park police officer Samuel Riveros and community member Darius Wong dead, and a second officer wounded.
Police say the shooting happened Saturday evening when Medina-Berumen allegedly opened fire near a residential party, first shooting Wong, 43, as he arrived for a family gathering, before engaging in a gunfight with responding officers.
Riveros was fatally wounded in the exchange and later died at the hospital. Officer Anthony Pimentel was also shot but has since been released from the hospital. Medina-Berumen was struck during the confrontation and remains hospitalized in stable condition; authorities expect he will be transferred to jail once medically cleared.
The shooting left the Baldwin Park neighborhood on edge, with residents describing a chaotic scene and spending the following day cleaning bloodstains and repairing bullet holes in homes and vehicles. Some neighbors initially mistook the gunfire for firecrackers.
At a news conference at the Hall of Justice, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman detailed the charges against Medina-Berumen, joined by Sheriff Robert Luna and Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert López. The announcement offered the first official look at the charges and the ongoing investigation into an incident that has shaken the community.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the shootings. Community members and local officials are calling for answers and support for those affected as Baldwin Park recovers from a night of violence.
Neighbors told the Los Angeles Times and ABC7 that the initial altercation between Medina-Berumen and Wong began as a verbal argument, possibly over parking related to a housewarming party in the neighborhood. According to one neighbor, Wong was dropping off his wife and daughter and got into a dispute with Medina-Berumen about where he parked, which may have escalated into the shooting
Authorities recovered an AR-15-style rifle and dozens of spent shell casings at the scene. Medina-Berumen remains in stable condition and could face life without parole if convicted. A vigil for the victims is planned for Friday at the Baldwin Park Police Department.
