L.A. Confidential: Cop killer was free due to D.A. George Gascón's 'soft-on-crime' policies

The gunman who died in a shootout that also killed two Southern California police officers on Tuesday was on probation on a prior gun charge, sparking fresh outrage against Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s progressive criminal justice policies.

Flores was already on parole last year when he pleaded guilty as being a felon in possession of a firearm. This third felony charge would have triggered the state’s “three-strikes law,” which imposes a harsher sentence on those convicted of certain felonies three times.

The felon had previously served two prison stints for burglary and car theft, and had been barred from carrying a gun since 2011, reports the Daily Mail.

Flores faced a minimum three years in prison, but because of Gascon, an advocate of alternatives to incarceration who has refused to prosecute three-strike cases, the felon received the bare minimum sentence of two years probation and 20 days’ jail time by pleading no contest, reports the Mail.

When El Monte Police Cpl. Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana responded to a call of a stabbing at a Los Angeles motel on Tuesday, they came under fire by Flores after knocking on one of the door. All three died during the ensuing shootout.

Conservatives and law enforcement have blasted Gascon as it was revealed that Flores had an extensive criminal history.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted, “It is outrageous the murderer was not in jail due to the reckless actions of George Gascon, a radical, soft-on-crime, Soros-backed DA.

Officers Paredes and Santana gave their lives in the service of their fellow citizens.

It is outrageous the murderer was not in jail due to the reckless actions of George Gascon, a radical, soft-on-crime, Soros-backed DA. https://t.co/PzRdkcQVuR

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 15, 2022

Gascon posted an apology, saying, “I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the two El Monte Police Officers killed on duty today. We stand with you at this time of great loss.”

“On behalf of everyone in the District Attorney’s Office, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the two @ElMontePolice officers who were killed on duty today. We stand with you at this time of great loss. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/WxagfiVAkL

— George Gascón (@LADAOffice) June 15, 2022

The incident is another mark against Gascon as a group working to recall him said it has collected enough signatures to put it on the ballot. The Recall George Gascon campaign told Fox News it received over 30,000 signatures over the past few days.