Palm Springs manhunt seeks killer of two cops

Calm domestic dialogue descends into bloodbath

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Two Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed Saturday when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city’s police chief said.

A third officer was wounded and remained hospitalized. The shooter was not identified.

SWAT officers quickly surrounded the house where the shooting occurred, and authorities said late Saturday night that the gunman might still be holed up inside.

“It was a simple family disturbance, and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of the city,” said Chief Bryan Reyes at a news conference.

The chief, near tears, identified the slain officers as Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

Zerebny, 27, had been with the department for about 18 months and only recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a now-4month-old daughter. Vega, the father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. He had been working overtime on his day off Saturday.

Reyes said the three were standing near the front door speaking with the man, “trying to negotiate with the suspect,” when he suddenly shot them.

Riverside County SWAT officers sealed off the normally quiet residential neighborhood in this desert resort town as police evacuated some residents. They told others to stay inside their homes, keep their doors locked and not to open them for anyone until further notice.

Reyes also asked the media and others not to stream live video of officers’ movements on social media, adding it could put them in danger.

“Understand that we’re actively looking for a cop murderer,” he said.

Although Reyes didn’t identify the shooting suspect, he indicated police had had previous dealings with him. He declined to elaborate, adding that Riverside County sheriff’s deputies were now in charge of the investigation.

As the shooting scene remained locked down late into the evening, scores of police officers, several fighting back tears, gathered at Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Center to offer a somber salute as the bodies of Zerebny and Vega were loaded into white hearses for transport to a coroner’s office.

Meanwhile, in front of police headquarters, scores of residents gathered to leave flowers, balloons and cards Saturday night.

“I don’t even remember anything so vicious and cruel,” said Palm Springs resident Heidi Thompson.