For shooting at Anaheim cops, three 22-year-olds get 15-to-life

Three men were sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison for firing shots at an unmarked Anaheim police cruiser with two uniformed officers inside.

Juan Carlos Covarrubias, 22, Jordy Roman Martinez, 22, and Andrew Gomez Sanchez, 22, all of Anaheim, were convicted in February of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and street terrorism, both felonies. Jurors also found true sentencing enhancements for committing the crime for the benefit of a gang and the vicarious discharge of a weapon.

They were acquitted of conspiracy to commit murder.

The trio pulled in front of the unmarked squad car about 3:30 a.m. June 1, 2012, and blocked the victims on Palm Street at Boysen Avenue, said Deputy District Attorney Gary LoGalbo.

Martinez got out of the passenger side of the car and opened fire on the officers, who were not hurt, LoGalbo said.

The officers put on their car’s lights and sirens and quickly retreated, but the defendants, with Sanchez driving, pursued the patrol car and one of the suspects shot at the officers, LoGalbo said.

The defendants attempted to drive away when other officers arrived, LoGalbo said, but they crashed while the driver was making a U-turn at Midway Drive and Anaheim Boulevard.

The three got out of the car and ran. Martinez and Covarrubias were quickly arrested, and Sanchez was picked up about an hour later, LoGalbo said.

— City News Service