Two men charged with attempted murder in hours-long Norwalk standoff

Two men involved in Tuesday’s standoff with law enforcement in a Norwalk mobile home park were charged with attempted murder Thursday.

Jason Devore, 37, of La Habra and George Contreras, 19, of Los Angeles were arrested Tuesday night, hours after Devore, allegedly armed with a rifle and wearing a bullet-proof vest, barricaded himself in a residence. Contreras was also inside the home.

Each was charged with two counts of attempted murder.

The standoff began around 4:30 p.m. after police tried to arrest Devore, who is on federal probation for bank robbery. Authorities at the time had been investigating him for a series of robberies in the Pomona area.

About 30 Norwalk homes were eventually evacuated during the ensuing standoff, during which several shots were fired at law enforcement personnel. Deputies fired tear gas at the mobile home before Devore finally walked out.

The felony criminal complaint includes a special allegation that Devore discharged a firearm in the commission of the crime, prosecutors said.

Devore was being held in lieu of $3.2-million bail, according to sheriff’s department inmate information. Contreras was being held in lieu of $2 million.

Contreras is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Devore’s arraignment was scheduled for June 26.

If convicted, each could face life in prison.

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