LOS ANGELES - The suspect accused of shooting two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies during an ambush in Compton has been arrested, authorities announced Wednesday.
"They became victims of a violent crime for one reason: They were doing their job and they were wearing a badge," District Attorney Jackie Lacey said as she sent her best wishes to the injured deputies.
Deonte Lee Murray, 36, of Compton, was charged with two counts each of willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a felon, Lacey said.
Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $6.15 million. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges. Murray is expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in a Compton courthouse.
When asked about a possible motive for the shooting, Homicide Bureau Captain Kent Wegener said, "other than the fact that he obviously hates policemen and wants them dead, not specifically."
Murray is a convicted felon, according to Wegener. He was arrested two weeks ago in connection with an armed-carjacking in Lynwood. At which time, the sheriff's department told FOX 11 that the arrest was not related to the ambush shooting.
RELATED: Carjacking suspect in custody after hours-long standoff in Lynwood
As a result of that incident, Murray was charged on September 17 with one felony count each of carjacking, second-degree robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm-personal use of a firearm.
He also faces allegations of association with a criminal street gang, discharging a rifle inflicting great bodily injury and personal use of a rifle in the carjacking incident.
A reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect had increased to more than $600,000.
Both deputies were released from the hospital earlier this month.
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