Convicted killer avoids death penalty for murder of Gilbert police officer
May 7, 2019, 5:00 PM | Updated: 5:57 pm
Christopher Redondo (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office via The AP)
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office via The AP)
PHOENIX – A convicted killer was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for the 2010 murder of a suburban Phoenix police officer, a case in which prosecutors sought the death sentence.
Christopher Redondo received the life sentence after being found guilty last month of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Gilbert Police Lt. Eric Shuhandler.
“Nine years ago, the defendant callously killed a police officer in cold blood and then endangered the lives of many others during a lengthy pursuit,” Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said in a press release.
“Lt. Shuhandler’s loved ones have waited a long time to see this day. Though it may not provide closure, I want to thank those who have worked and persevered to seek justice for this heinous act.”
Prosecutors sought the death penalty because of aggravating factors, including that the victim was a police officer and Redondo was previously convicted for a 2009 murder for which he is already serving a life sentence, the release said.
Redondo also was found guilty by a jury in April on five counts of aggravated assault and one count of drive-by shooting. Sentencing on those convictions will occur May 17.
The crimes occurred after Shuhandler pulled over Redondo’s truck because it had a partially covered license plate on Jan. 28, 2010.
Redondo shot the 16-year police veteran in face as he walked from his patrol car back to the truck after learning that Redondo had an arrest warrant. Shuhandler died of his injuries after being transported to a hospital.
Authorities said Redondo and Daimen Joseph Irizarry, who was driving Redondo’s truck, fled after the shooting.
During a 50-mile chase, police said during the trial, Redondo leaned from the passenger-side window of the truck and fired two gunshots at a police vehicle on U.S. 60. He also tossed wrenches, an air compressor tank and other objects at pursuing officers.
The chase ended in the mining community of Superior, about 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.
In July 2010, a jury found Irizarry guilty on four drive-by shooting counts, eight aggravated assault counts and one count of unlawful flight from law enforcement. He was sentenced to 107 years in prison.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
