The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced felony manslaughter charges against a man believed to be responsible for a wrong-way crash that killed an L.A. County Sheriff’s Department recruit in Whittier.

Sheriff Robert Luna said the charges were a “significant step toward bringing justice” to the family and friends of recruit Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna added that its department was committed to “holding accountable,” the suspect in the incident.

“The felony filings today are a step towards justice for the family of Deputy Alejandro Martinez and all the LASD Recruits who were injured, many of whom have life-altering injuries sustained because of this tragic incident,” Luna said. “The collaborative efforts among the California Highway Patrol Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team and our Homicide Bureau detectives illustrates our commitment and diligence in holding the individual accountable for this horrific incident.”

The crash occurred on Nov. 17, 2022, as a group of recruits were on their standard 6 a.m. run through the city. Surveillance footage from the area showed the car speed toward the running recruits, hitting the group and injuring 25, on top of the death.

At the time, after conducting multiple interviews on-scene, former Sheriff Alex Villanueva said there was reason to believe that it was a deliberate act.

Suspect Nicholas Gutierrez faces two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine counts of reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury.

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