Two people were in custody in Hawaii Thursday in connection with the shooting of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle in Rolling Hills Estates.
Shane Michael Mahoney, 39, and Arianna Charmaine Mitchell, 22, were both arrested Tuesday in Hawaii, according to Sheriff Robert Luna. Mahoney is accused of firing a shot around 9 a.m. Feb. 22 in the 600 block of Deep Valley Drive that struck the rear of a sheriff’s patrol vehicle. The deputy driving the vehicle was not injured.
“Nobody expects, nor should it ever happen, to be fired upon just because you’re wearing this uniform and you’re in a marked black and white vehicle,” Luna said at a Thursday morning news conference announcing the arrests.
Luna said the shot fired at the deputy struck the trunk of the vehicle and traveled into the rear seat panel. The bullet did not enter the front seat area, he said.
“Our deputy absolutely could have been killed,” Luna said. “… This was not a random act. This was an attempted murder of a peace officer. And let me be very clear to everybody out there, we’re not going to tolerate this.”
According to Luna, the day after the shooting, Mahoney and Mitchell flew to Hawaii, where they have remained ever since. Investigators, aided by surveillance video, identified Mahoney as the alleged shooter and served a search warrant at a home near the shooting scene, where they seized an assault rifle, three semi-automatic weapons and ammunition, the sheriff said.
The pair were arrested in Hawaii on Tuesday and are awaiting extradition back to Los Angeles County, Luna said.
Mahoney was charged with felony counts of attempted murder and assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. The charges include allegations of personal use and discharge of a firearm, according to court records.
Prosecutors said Mahoney allegedly fired the shot from the balcony of an apartment complex.
Mitchell was charged with a felony count of being an accessory to the crime, for allegedly helping Mahoney attempt to evade arrest, Hochman said.
Mahoney faces 35 years to life in prison if convicted as charged, while Mitchell faces up to three years behind bars, according to Hochman.
Luna said it remains unclear what motivated the shooting.
“That is the million-dollar question. Why would anyone pick up a rifle and take a shot at a black and white police car displaying Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, clearly marked?” he said. “It’s unacceptable. It’s actually sickening if you ask me.”
Authorities said the deputy who was targeted in the shooting had responded to the area for a call of a reckless driver, and he was driving away when the shot rang out. The deputy is assigned to the Carson station, but was working an overtime shift out of the Lomita station, Luna said.