Gang member Raymundo Duran should have been in prison, not the streets of L.A. County, on Monday when he shot a sheriff’s deputy in the back – and George Gascon is to blame for this.
Duran has a violent criminal history, including a manslaughter conviction. When Duran was arrested for possession of a firearm by a felon in 2022, Gascon failed to pursue a “strike” enhancement (for the manslaughter prior) that could have led to a sentence of six years in prison.
Instead, Duran got 16 months in a ridiculously lenient plea bargain. He likely served less than a year.
Seven months earlier, Duran committed a hit-and-run and led police on a televised chase while he was wanted for a parole violation. Gascon gave him probation, again failing to utilize a “strike” enhancement.
I’m relieved that a bulletproof vest saved the life of Deputy Samuel Aispuro and wish him a full and speedy recovery. I’m also angry, because this incident should never have happened in the first place. Gascon’s extreme policies protect criminals and put all of us at risk. Enough is enough.
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