Fallen Officer De Guzman honored with funeral procession, service

EL CAJON (KUSI) — 3:50 p.m. — Hundreds of law enforcement vehicles were on the streets Friday as funeral processions took place prior to and following an East County memorial ceremony for a San Diego Police Department veteran killed in the line of duty.

The contingent of motorcycles, squad cars and other vehicles traveled in the late morning on Interstate 8 from Mission Valley to Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, where a midday memorial ceremony for SDPD gang unit Officer Jonathan "J.D.” De Guzman took place.

A second motorcade left the church shortly before 2:30 p.m., traveled to the west and south on I-8, state Route 125 and SR-54, and arrived at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita about 3:15 p.m. for an interment ceremony.

In many spots along both routes, members of the public waved American flags and signs bearing praise for the slain officer and his mourning colleagues and loved ones.

De Guzman, 43, was gunned down July 28 during a pedestrian stop in Southcrest. His gang-unit partner, Officer Wade Irwin, 32, suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound.

The alleged assailant, 52-year-old ex-con Jesse Michael Gomez, was critically injured by Irwin’s return fire and remains hospitalized.

Related Link: Man accused of shooting two SDPD officers remains in custody on $5 million bail

On Tuesday, Gomez was arraigned at UCSD Medical Center on charges of murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A special-circumstance allegation of murder of a police officer makes Gomez eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted.

Authorities have disclosed no motive for the deadly shooting.

9 a.m. — Grieving family members, law enforcement colleagues and political leaders will gather today to bid farewell to a San Diego police officer killed last week in the line of duty.

Gov. Jerry Brown and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer plan to join the mourning relatives and police officers at a midday public memorial service in El Cajon for 16-year SDPD veteran Jonathan “J.D.” De Guzman. A motorcade procession to Glen Abbey Memorial Park will follow the church ceremony.

Related Links: Funeral service program details 
  

The funeral procession will shut down San Diego freeways starting at 9 a.m.