Officer Tony Zeppetella, 27, Oceanside Police Department
Murdered June 13, 2003
On June 13, 2003, Officer Zeppetella stopped Adrien George Camacho for a traffic violation. Camacho pulled out a gun and shot Zeppetella. Camacho then pistol-whipped the injured officer before shooting him again and killing him with the officer’s own gun. Camacho was a documented illegal alien and gang member with a criminal history which included four previous felony convictions. He had been deported several times.
After a four hour standoff with SWAT officers, Camacho surrendered. He has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial.
Officer Matthew Pavelka, 26, Burbank Police Department
Murdered November 15, 2003
Officer Pavelka was killed and his partner, Gregory Campbell, 41, was seriously injured during a shootout with two suspects who fired nearly 30 rounds at the officers. Officers had stopped the vehicle in a crime infested area and had called for back-up when the gunfire erupted. One of the fugitives, Ramon Aranda was killed by officers during the gun battle. Matthew Pavelka was the son of a 29 year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department.
The second shooter, David Garcia, fled to Mexico when he remained for nearly two weeks before Mexican authorities expelled him as an "undesirable" citing his US citizenship. It’s important to note that Mexico historically refuses to deport, expel or extradite anyone with a Mexican surname. It is believed that this expulsion was accomplished only because of the extremely adverse publicity Mexico has received as it relates to their indicated refusal to extradite Armando Garcia (no relation) for the murder of Deputy David March on April 29, 2002.