California officer killed in shootout

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A driver stopped by police pulled out a rifle and opened fire, killing a California Highway Patrol officer and wounding two others during a shootout on a freeway overpass that left the gunman dead and sent terrified motorists running for cover.

Officer Andrew Moye Jr., 34, died in the gunfight as dozens of bullets flew late Monday afternoon in Riverside, east of Los Angeles. Two civilians received minor injuries.

The other officers were both shot in their legs, CHP Chief Bill Dance said Tuesday. One was in critical condition and the other was listed as serious, but both were expected to survive.

The gunman was identified by the Riverside County coroner’s office as Aaron Luther, 49, and authorities say he had a criminal record that included an attempted murder conviction in 1994.

Moye had pulled over Luther’s pickup truck and was doing paperwork to impound it when Luther, who was outside the vehicle, reached in, grabbed a rifle and fatally wounded the officer, authorities said. Moye was able to radio for help and other officers engaged in a “long and horrific gunbattle,” Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz said.

Authorities said it was unclear what prompted Moye to stop the truck or for Luther to open fire.

“I am devastated by the tragedy,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley tweeted. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at half-staff Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Relatives said Moye had California Highway Patrol officers escort the flag-draped coffin of officer Andre Moye, 34, from the emergency room at Riverside University Health System after he was fatally shot Monday during a traffic stop. Motorcycle officers then led a procession as the hearse was driven to the coroner’s office.

been with the CHP for about four years. Dance said Moye was an “outstanding” officer. “His mother told me this was his dream job and he loved going to work,” Dance said.

Moye is survived by his wife, mother, father, stepfather, two brothers, two sisters and a large extended family, the chief added. The gunfight occurred during the afternoon commute when traffic was heavy.

Jennifer Moctezuma, 31, of Moreno Valley, told the Los Angeles Times she was driving home with her 6-year-old twins when a bullet flew through her front windshield. Charles Childress, 56, a retired Marine also from Moreno Luther

Valley, was in the car behind her and led the family as they crawled to the bottom of a bridge to hide.

“He’s my hero,” Moctezuma said.

Luther’s father, Dennis Luther, watched the events unfold on television. “It’s hard. I love him. And I’m sorry for the policeman,” he told KABC-TV. “I’m devastated. I just can’t believe it.”

After his truck was impounded, Aaron Luther called his wife to pick him up, his father said. When she arrived, the tow truck was there.

“She said she heard ‘pop, pop, pop’ ... gunfire, and then a bullet went through the windshield of her car,” Dennis Luther said.

Dennis Luther said his son recently seemed depressed, was having knee pain and marital problems but was

devoted to his two children and a stepchild.

“So I don’t know what overcame him,” the father said.

Jeffrey Callison, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said Aaron Luther was sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempted seconddegree murder and an enhancement for the use of a firearm, as well as burglary charges. He began his sentence in 1994 and was paroled in April 2004.

Court records show Luther was arrested in 2007 on felony assault charges and sentenced to 90 days in jail. He also was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of driving while his license was suspended or revoked, records show.

As a felon, Luther was not supposed to have a gun.