Malden Police Stand With Palm Springs Police After Officer Killings

MALDEN, MA – The Malden Police Department on Sunday expressed its condolences about the two police officers killed in Palm Springs, CA over the weekend.

Malden police tweeted out thoughts and prayers to the Palm Springs Police Department in their time of grief:

Officers Jose "Gil" Vega and Lesley Zerebny were fatally shot Saturday afternoon after responding to what they thought was a routine domestic disturbance call. A third officer was wounded in the standoff.

• See also: John Felix, Alleged Palm Springs Cop Killer, Had High-Capacity Magazines, Was Wearing Soft Body Armor
• Palm Springs Officers Shot: 2 Officers Killed, 3rd Wounded Responding to Domestic Disturbance; Suspect in Custody

As four officers approached the front door of the home where the incident was reported, they were met with gunfire through the closed entrance, police said. What followed was a lengthy standoff after which the alleged shooter surrendered peacefully to police.

The suspect in the killings, 26-year-old John Hernandez Felix, was wearing soft body armor and had several high capacity magazines in his possession, according to police.

Officer Vega, married with eight children, was a 35-year veteran of the police force due to retire in December. He was scheduled to be off Saturday but picked up an overtime shift. Officer Zerebny had recently returned from maternity leave and had a 4-month-old daughter. She was on the force for a year and a half and married to a sheriff's deputy in another department.

Renee Schiavone (Patch Staff) contributed to this report.

Image via Malden Police Department