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LOS ANGELES – A 41-year-old Sheriff’s deputy was charged by the District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division (JSID) on Thursday with murdering a neighbor who fought with the defendant’s 20-year-old son outside the family home in Sylmar last summer.
Francisco Gamez II was arrested by Los Angeles police yesterday. He was charged today in case No. BA404719. Bail was recommended at $4 million. The defendant is expected to appear for arraignment in Los Angeles Superior Court Department on Thursday.
Gamez was charged with the murder of Armando Casillas, the attempted murder of a second victim and discharging a weapon from an occupied vehicle. Each count carries an allegation that the defendant personally used a firearm to commit the crimes.
The case will be prosecuted by JSID Deputy District Attorneys Paul Nunez and Natalie Adomian.
The June 17 altercation that allegedly led to the shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. in Sylmar. Defendant Gamez was contacted after the fight by his eldest son. The defendant allegedly drove to the area, confronted the 38-year-old Casillas and another man, and fired two shots. Casillas was killed; the other man was not hit.
If convicted as charged, Gamez faces a maximum state prison term of 75 years to life.
–Source: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office of Media Relations
I am deeply saddened and my heart goes out to Cookie’s family. I still can’t believe that just a few days before my neighborhood brother was brutally murdered him and I stood side by side outside his house talking about our childhood. I grew up living next door to Cookie on Beaver street and the memories i have of him as a mentor, protector, and big brother will be cherished for ever. Cookie was a big brother to me and loved by many.
Your’s Truly
A.K.A TEDDY