Suspect charged in officer’s death

SAN DIEGO — A man was charged Tuesday with murder and attempted murder in the shootings of two San Diego police officers, and prosecutors revealed that he opened fire immediately after being asked if he lived in the area where he was walking.

Jesse Gomez pleaded not guilty in an arraignment held at the hospital as he recovered from wounds sustained in the gun battle with police.

About 11 p.m. Thursday, Gomez and another man had been walking and split up when they saw the officers, Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Runyon said at a news conference. The two officers pulled up to Gomez, and Officer Wade Irwin got out and asked if he lived in the area.

Gomez “answered with gunfire,” Runyon said.

He shot Irwin, who survived, then fired at the car where Officer Jonathan DeGuzman sat with his seat belt still on, Runyon said. DeGuzman was hit four times and killed.

Gomez is eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors have not decided whether to seek it. Police and prosecutors were mum about a possible motive.

Gomez was found in a ravine shortly after the shootings when officers followed a trail of blood, authorities said.

DeGuzman, 43, died after being rushed to a hospital. Irwin, 32, is recovering from his wounds at a hospital.