SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A status conference was held Thursday for Jesse Michael Gomez, who is accused of fatally shooting San Diego police Officer Jonathan "J.D.'' De Guzman and wounding Officer Wade Irwin during a stop in Southcrest.
DeGuzman and his partner, Officer Wade Irwin, 32, came under fire moments after pulling over to talk to a man behaving suspiciously in a neighborhood just east of the intersection of Interstate 5 and state Route 15.
Five rounds struck DeGuzman while he was still seated behind the wheel of his cruiser. Irwin suffered a serious but non-life-threatening wound.
The alleged assailant, 52-year-old ex-con Jesse Michael Gomez, was critically injured by Irwin's return fire and remains hospitalized.
Gomez was arraigned at UCSD Medical Center on charges of murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was ordered to remain in custody in lieu of $5 million bail. A special circumstance allegation of murder of a police officer makes Gomez eligible for the death penalty if he's convicted.
Authorities have disclosed no suspected motive for the deadly shooting.
Another status conference has been set for December 12.
The San Diego Police Officers Association is collecting money for DeGuzman's family. Donations can be mailed to the San Diego Police Officers Association, 8388 Vickers St., San Diego, CA 92111, or made online at sdpoa.org/about-widows-orphans-fund/.
SDPOA officials asked contributors to include "Officer Jonathan DeGuzman" in the notes of the online donation or on the memo lines of their checks.
Donors can also text "DeGuzman" to 41444 for a response with a link to the SDPOA charity's page.
Contributions to aid in Irwin's recovery expenses can be made at gofundme.com/irwinfamilyfund.
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