Sentence being reviewed for suspects in police shooting

Memorial for Lieutenant Eric Shuhandler in the parking lot of the southeast corner of Val Vista Drive and Baseline Road. Photo by Ciera Thompson

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Written by Andrea Lavalette - Staff Writer

Lieutenant Eric Shuhandler, of the Gilbert Police Department, was fatally shot January 28 on the southeast corner of Val Vista Drive and Baseline Road. Christopher Redondo of Globe, Arizona is accused of the shooting. As of now, he is charged with first-degree murder, four counts of drive-by shooting, and 19 counts of aggravated assault. The driver, Daimen Irizarry, of Gilbert, is charged with four counts of drive-by shooting, nine counts of aggravated assault, and unlawful flight from police. After the 50-mile chase, Redondo and Irizarry were finally stopped and wounded by 40 police officers from various surrounding cities.

According to Redondo, the reason for shooting was due to fear. Revoking his right to silence, he was quoted saying, “I’m sorry, he scared me.” Redondo has a history of assaulting cops from 2007. In 2008, Redondo was released from prison after 15 months of serving for stalking, child abuse, aggravated assault, and domestic violence. Prior to that incident, he served a 10-day jail sentence and three years probation in 2002.

Lieutenant Shuhandler grew up in New Jersey and served as a police officer for two years before moving to Arizona. Since he has been in Arizona, Shuhandler served for 14 years. He was 42 years old.

Although Redondo supposedly shot out of fear, the motive is not yet known. Arizona enforces the death penalty, but the decision for the two convicted has yet to be decided.