In re Meki G. CA4/1

BACKGROUND

A. The Shootings On December 20, 2006, at about 6:15 p.m., Oceanside Police Officer K.P. initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle with expired registration tags in an area known for its high gang activity. Shortly after, 25-year-old Oceanside Police Officer Dan Bessant arrived on the scene to assist K.P. At about 6:30 p.m., a group of three to six males, including Meki, fired multiple gunshots at the officers in rapid succession. Meki and the other males were members or affiliates of the Deep Valley Blood (DVB) gang. A .22 caliber bullet entered Bessant’s chest cavity, punctured his heart, passed through his liver, and came to a rest in his chest cavity, killing him on the scene. Meki was taken into custody and initially denied involvement. However, he later told detectives he had been drinking beer in the park on the day of the shooting, saw the officers, and was scared they would arrest him for being intoxicated, so he pulled out a rifle and a handgun and fired at

3 the officers simultaneously. A few days later, Meki again changed his story and told a detective he fired a rifle at officer Bessant, while two other individuals fired handguns at the officers. Meki claimed…