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Gov. Brown To Attend Memorial For Slain San Diego Police Officer

Gov. Jerry Brown speaks at UC San Diego, Oct. 27, 2015.
Associated Press
Gov. Jerry Brown speaks at UC San Diego, Oct. 27, 2015.

Gov. Jerry Brown will attend the Friday memorial service for Jonathan "J.D." De Guzman, a San Diego police gang- enforcement officer fatally wounded last week during a shootout in a Southcrest- area neighborhood.

On Wednesday, a viewing is set for 4 p.m. and a rosary ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church at 450 Corral Canyon Road in Bonita. A funeral mass will be held at the same church late Thursday morning and all will be open to the public.

On Friday, a public memorial at Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon is scheduled for the 16-year department veteran, who was shot along with a fellow officer in a gun battle that erupted during a field stop on Acacia Grove Way late last Thursday night. A procession to Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita will follow the ceremony.

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In a news release, Brown said he would be attending the Friday memorial.

This undated photo shows San Diego police Officer Jonathan De Guzman.
San Diego Police Department
This undated photo shows San Diego police Officer Jonathan De Guzman.

De Guzman, 43, was shot five times at close range and died at Scripps Mercy Hospital, according to police and prosecutors. He is survived by his wife and two children.

His partner, Officer Wade Irwin, 32, underwent surgery for a bullet wound at UCSD Medical Center and is expected to recover.

The ex-con who allegedly opened fire on them, 52-year-old Jesse Michael Gomez, was critically wounded in the shootout and remains hospitalized.

He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was ordered to remain in custody in lieu of $5 million bail. A special circumstance allegation of murder of a police officer makes Gomez eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted.

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The San Diego Police Officers Association is collecting money for De Guzman's family. Donations can be mailed to the San Diego Police Officers Association, 8388 Vickers St., San Diego, CA 92111, or made online at sdpoa.org.

SDPOA officials asked donors to include "Officer Jonathan De Guzman" in the notes of the online donation or on the memo lines of their checks.

Contributions to aid in Irwin's recovery expenses can be made at gofundme.com/irwinfamilyfund.