A man and a woman are accused of shooting and killing an elderly double amputee in a wheelchair while he slept in a wheelchair south of Los Angeles, authorities reported.
Identified as Rubi Anguiano Salazar, aged 37, and Raymundo Hernández, aged 34 years, were charged with the murder of Gerold Lipeles, of 69 years, the past May, the authorities announced.
The veteran was sleeping outside a McDonald’s fast food restaurant when Salazar walked up and shot him in the head, prosecutors argued. Lipeles lost his life five days later.
Hernández and another man, Blas Canche, of 32 years, were arrested on Tuesday, but the other suspect has not been charged with any crime, although a further investigation is awaited, police said.
Salazar was in officers’ custody on an unrelated charge, officials disclosed.
Salazar is charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a criminal. Prosecutors alleged that four days after they opened fire on Lipeles, he shot a woman, identified as Stella Polly, from 5420 in the back. years, at a bus stop.
“After the suspect initiated the conversation, Stella Polly walked away,” reads an LAPD statement. “The female suspect shot him in the back as he walked away.”
“The murder of this victim, who was homeless and a double amputee asleep in her wheelchair, is disturbingly brutal and insensitive,” said District Attorney George Gascón. “I thank the members of my Community Violence Reduction Division for their work on this case. We will hold those responsible accountable for this unthinkable crime.”
Police did not disclose possible reasons for the shooting.
Anyone who can offer additional information regarding any of the shootings is asked to contact Homicide Detectives in the South Office at 323-550-5166 or the Street Division Detectives 77 at 323-550-5420.
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