Slain Officer's Family Surprised by New Charges

Two men and one woman face murder charges in the death of San Diego police officer Christopher Wilson.

The 17-year veteran of the department was shot and killed during a probation compliance check on Oct. 28, 2010.

Alex Charfauros, 26, Melissa Ortiz, 21, and Patrick Luangrath, 19, were charged with murder in connection with the shooting at an downtown arraignment Tuesday.

The charges were a surprise even to Officer Wilson's family.

"We knew they were criminals to some degree, I guess up until now we didn't realize how much they were involved in Chris' murder," said Tracy Wilson, the officer's ex-wife.

Tracy Wilson spoke about the pain her family is still dealing with nine months after the deadly shootout.

Her son Conner and daughter Kaylee made it through their first Father's Day without her ex-husband.

"It's been really hard," she said.

Tracy Wilson said the family believed justice had been served the night of the shootout when one suspect was killed and another took his own life.

"We really thought that it was over, when Holim Lee and Lucky Xayasene died at the scene," she said.

But Luangrath, Charfauros and Ortiz, were also there when Officer Wilson was killed.

Prosecutor Michael Runyon said even though none pulled the trigger, each played a role in the officer's death.

For instance, Ortiz is accused of turning off a light shortly before police forced their way inside a bedroom where the shootout took place.

"So when [officers] kick in that door, they are completely backlit, so everybody in that room that might have a firearm now has them silhouetted on a well lit back drop," Runyon said.

If convicted, each defendant faces 25-year-to-life in prison.
 

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