A two-time convict who opened fire at Santa Monica police during a traffic stop eight years ago, seriously injuring one of the officers, was sentenced Thursday to 125 years to life in prison.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours in May before convicting Dante Glenn Leverette, 40, of Los Angeles, of three counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer and assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a police officer and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The jury also found true allegations that the attempted murders were willful, deliberate and premeditated, that Leverette had personally and intentionally discharged a handgun causing great bodily injury, and that he was free on bail or his own recognizance in a pending case at the time of the crime.
Leverette opened fire just after 1:30 a.m. May 18, 2010, in the 1900 block of Lincoln Boulevard after police stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger, according to Deputy District Attorney Geoff Lewin.
Three officers at the scene, including one who was struck in the groin area, returned fire and Leverette fled from the scene, the prosecutor said.
Leverette was nabbed about 3 1/2 hours later after trying to flee from a Gardena police dog — one of nine police K9s that were called in to help with the search — and being fired upon again by police, Lewin said.
Leverette had two prior convictions — one for obstructing or resisting an officer and one for a drug offense.