A man convicted of trying to kill two Burbank Police officers who went to a Kmart store to take him into custody for shoplifting was sentenced Thursday to 81 years to life in state prison.
Jamie Warren Willard, 36, was found guilty July 15 of two counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer and assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic firearm, along with one count each of assault and second-degree commercial burglary.
Police were called to the Kmart store in Burbank on July 2, 2010, after Willard used a fire extinguisher to assault a security guard upon being detained for shoplifting, according to testimony presented during the trial.
Willard was handcuffed with his hands behind his back, but managed to grab one of the officer’s guns and fire on the lawmen, who were both treated for gunshot injuries, police said.
One of the officers has undergone multiple surgeries as a result of a gunshot wound to his hand and the other officer was struck in the leg by a bullet fragment, police said.
Willard has remained behind bars since his arrest six years ago.
—City News Service