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Father: Suspect in officers’ slaying wanted to shoot police

Two-year-old Jayden Bunnell kisses flowers at the urging of his grandparents Barbara Bunnell and J.D. Bunnell, from Cathedral City, Calif., for slain Palm Springs Police Officers Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny, in front of the police station in Palm Springs, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Vega and Zerebny, trying to resolve a family dispute, were killed Saturday when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief said. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Pena)
Two-year-old Jayden Bunnell kisses flowers at the urging of his grandparents Barbara Bunnell and J.D. Bunnell, from Cathedral City, Calif., for slain Palm Springs Police Officers Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny, in front of the police station in Palm Springs, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Vega and Zerebny, trying to resolve a family dispute, were killed Saturday when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief said. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Pena) Two-year-old Jayden Bunnell kisses flowers at the urging of his grandparents Barbara Bunnell and J.D. Bunnell, from Cathedral City, Calif., for slain Palm Springs Police Officers Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny, in front of the police station in Palm Springs, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Vega and Zerebny, trying to resolve a family dispute, were killed Saturday when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief said. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Pena)

By Associated Press 5 min read

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) – The young officer had just returned to the police force after maternity leave. The older one was two months short of retirement. Both Southern California officers were fatally shot over the weekend, allegedly by a gang member “acting crazy” and intending to shoot police, according to his father.

Palm Springs police Chief Bryan Reyes identified the officers slain Saturday as Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega, 63, and Lesley Zerebny, 27. A third officer was wounded after police responded to a domestic disturbance call.

The suspected gunman’s father told a neighbor his son was armed, “acting crazy” and wanted to shoot police.

John Felix, 26, was apprehended early Sunday after a lengthy standoff and will be charged this week with murder.

Felix finally emerged wearing soft body armor and carrying ammunition but no weapon after police shot a chemical agent into the home where he had holed up, officials said.