Gang Member Who Shot Deputy In The Back Jailed Without Bail: DA

LOS ANGELES, CA —A man suspected of shooting a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department motorcycle officer in the back pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of attempted murder of a peace officer and other counts.

Raymundo Duran, 47, was ordered to remain jailed without bail. He's set to return to court June 18 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial in connection with the April 22 attack on Deputy Samuel Aispuro.

Duran was arrested in San Diego County hours after Aispuro was shot while stopped at a traffic light in West Covina, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Aispuro, who was saved by his bulletproof vest, was subsequently "recovering at home" after being hospitalized, Luna said last month.

California Highway Patrol officers arrested Duran on suspicion of DUI and weapons charges, according to police.

Luna described Duran as a gang member with an extensive criminal history. Authorities believe he acted alone.

At a press conference last month, Luna praised witnesses and law enforcement alike. Witnesses at the scene rushed to the aid of the fallen deputy and provided police with information that helped detectives identify a suspect, Luna said.

"They saw what they saw, got out of their cars and went immediately to aid our deputy," Luna said. "Eventually their information became very important to the investigation that our homicide detectives were conducting."

Aispuro, 43, was shot while he was on his sheriff's department motorcycle in full uniform. The bullet struck Aispuro in the back, but it did not penetrate his bulletproof vest, Luna said.

"Deputy Samuel Aispuro was on duty ... waiting at a red light on his marked LA County Sheriff's motorcycle in the southbound lanes of North Barranca Street at the intersection of East Garvey Avenue here in the city of West Covina when he was shot in the back," said Luna. "I want to repeat that. He was sitting on a marked black and white police motorcycle in full uniform and he was shot in the back."

Aispuro, a 20-year veteran of the department, was briefly hospitalized in stable condition. He is married with two children ages 4 and 2.

City News Service contributed to this report.