Suspect sticks out tongue upon hearing of possible death sentence if convicted of killing Whittier police officer

Upon learning he’s facing the death penalty, Michael Christopher Mejia — accused of killing Whittier police Officer Keith Boyer and his own cousin nearly a year ago — gave a slight laugh, smiled and stuck out his tongue.
The former gang member was in Norwalk Superior Court on Friday as Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Garrett Dameron made the announcement.  “We are seeking the death penalty in this case,” he said.
Officials believe the 27-year-old Mejia is responsible for a pair of deadly shootings on Feb. 20, 2017. Police said the man first shot his cousin, 47-year-old Roy Torres, to death in an East Los Angeles converted garage, before stealing the victim’s car.
Hours later, police said Mejia crashed that car at Colima Road and Mar Vista Street. After two Whittier officers responded, police said Mejia shot them both. Officer Keith Boyer was killed, while Officer Patrick Hazell was wounded.
Mejia was also wounded in the brief shootout.
 
Judge Raul A. Sahagun set April 6 for Mejia’s next court date.
Mejia didn’t have the only demonstrative reaction. When asked how she felt about the decision regarding her son’s accused killer, Nancy Clark, who sat with her husband, Don, in the front row of the gallery during the brief proceedings, smiled broadly and did a little dance.
“I could care less about the guy,” Don Clark said.
Paul Cohen, Mejia’s attorney, declined comment, as did two women who identified themselves as relatives of the defendant.
The special circumstances in the case, according to Dameron, are multiple murders, murder of a police officer in lawful pursuit of his duties, murder to avoid arrest, gang allegation and gun allegation.
Source: Oc Register