3 charged with murder, robbery in fatal shooting of Downey police officer

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Maricela Alvarado, sister of suspect Abel Diaz, cries as she walks to her car, insisting the teenager was not responsible for the death ofOfficer Ricardo Galvez. “My brother is innocent. He is not the shooter,” said Alvarado, 24.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Laura Sarabia said she came to the Downey memorial for Officer Ricardo Galvez to pay her respects, and show her kids the hero he was.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Bell Gardens police Officer Steven Perez salutes as the coroner’s van departs from the scene where Downey police Officer Ricardo Galvez was found shot to death in the driver’s seat of his vehicle in a Downey parking lot.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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L.A. County Sheriff’s Department personnel salute a coroner’s van bearing the body of slain Downey police Officer Ricardo Galvez as it arrives at the coroner’s office in Los Angeles.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Downey Police Department personnel gather at the coroner’s office on Thursday morning, after escorting the body of slain Downey Officer Ricardo Galvez to the facility in downtown Los Angeles.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Members of the Downey Police Department form an honor line as the body of slain Officer Ricardo Galvez is moved to the coroner’s van. Galvez was fatally shot in a botched robbery attempt as he sat in his personal vehicle in a Downey city parking lot, authorities said.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A Downey police officer is consoled after the body of slain Officer Ricardo Galvez was moved to the coroner’s van Thursday morning.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Bell Gardens police Officer R. Barrios hugs a former Marine who served with slain officer Ricardo Galvez.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Former Marines who served with slain Officer Ricardo Galvez, as well as police officers and other people form a line as the coroner’s van departs.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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People line the street as the coroner’s van departs with the body of slain Downey police Officer Ricardo Galvez.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A memorial with a portrait of slain Downey police officer Ricardo Galvez is forming in front of the police station.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A Downey police officer hugs people arriving to the scene of where Officer Ricardo Galvez was found shot to death in his vehicle in a city parking lot.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Police officials examine the area where Downey police Officer Ricardo Galvez was found fatally shot.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Downey Police officers embrace at the scene where fellow Officer Ricardo Galvez was found shot to death in the civic center parking lot.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Police investigate a scene, including this vehicle with the trunk open, off Washington Boulevard in Montebello. Ricardo Galvez, a Downey police officer, was fatally shot while sitting in his personal vehicle in a city parking lot.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies investigate the scene off Washington Boulevard in Montebello, where a vehicle fleeing the scene of a fatal shooting in Downey was finally stopped.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

By Veronica Rocha

Nov. 23, 2015 4:20 PM PT

Prosecutors charged two more men Monday with fatally shooting Downey police Officer Ricardo “Ricky” Galvez in a botched robbery attempt last week.

Jeremy Alvarez, 21, and Steven Knott, 18, were charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance that a fatal shooting occurred during an attempted robbery, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. They are also charged with one count of attempted second-degree robbery.

Abel Diaz, 16, of Bellflower, who had been previously charged with murder only, now faces the same charges filed against Alvarez and Knott, prosecutors said. Diaz was charged as an adult and remains jailed in lieu of $1-million bail.

They also face gun and gang allegations.

The three had their arraignments delayed Monday and will be back in court Dec. 17 in connection with Galvez’s death. They are being held without bail.

Alvarez and Knott could face the death penalty if convicted and if prosecutors decide to seek it. Because of Diaz’s age, he faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Investigators said Galvez was sitting in his personal car in a parking lot next to police headquarters when two men walked up to his car and fired at him. Galvez, a five-year veteran of the Downey Police Department, was not wearing his uniform at the time, they said. The 29-year-old Marine reservist had served twice overseas.

The men fled in a Nissan sedan, authorities said, but an officer in the area heard the shots and gave chase. After the pursuit ended, the driver was caught in Montebello.

Hours later, Diaz and another man were taken into custody after an intense police search.

Investigators said the weapon, a revolver, was recovered.

They have admitted to investigators that they were trying to rob Galvez, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. John Corina.

Detectives believe that Diaz and Knott approached Galvez as he sat in his car while Alvarez acted as the getaway driver, he said.

Detectives were also investigating whether the three were involved in a recent string of robberies in Bellflower, Downey and Lakewood, he said.

Diaz’s sister, Maricela Alvarado, told reporters Friday that her brother was innocent. She said Diaz told her that he didn’t shoot Galvez but that his friend did.

On Monday, Downey police announced Galvez’s rosary and viewing service will start at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Downey Civic Theatre. His funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Nov. 30 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. A graveside service will continue at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA

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