OCEANSIDE — Oceanside Police Department officers were removing their black mourning bands today after wearing them Tuesday in honor of Officer Tony Zeppetella, who was shot and killed on June 13, 2003.
Zeppetella was walking back to his patrol car after contacting Adrian George Camacho, a known gang member, when the officer was shot, according to the OPD. Zeppetella died from his wounds at Palomar Medical Center.
Camacho drove away in the patrol car to the home of his former in-laws and barricaded inside for four hours in a standoff with police until he surrendered. He was charged with murder.
Camacho was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to death on Feb. 7, 2006.
In January 2006, a section of Highway 76 was dedicated and named the Oceanside Police Officer Tony Zeppetella Memorial Highway.
