A notorious handgun once owned by a former Los Angeles police officer turned killer has resurfaced during an investigation into a $1 million armed robbery in Beverly Hills.
On Tuesday, two South American nationals were charged with stealing a $1 million Patek Philippe watch at gunpoint while their victim dined with his family on the patio of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on August 10, according to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Authorities tracked the suspects to an Airbnb in Exposition Park, located about 10 miles from the Beverly Hills hotel, after the robbery. During a search of the property on Saturday morning, officers discovered a Glock 21 .45 caliber handgun registered to Christopher Dorner, the ex-LAPD officer who infamously went on a killing spree in 2013.
Dorner, who became the subject of a massive nine-day manhunt, is remembered for his deadly vendetta against law enforcement, which resulted in the deaths of four people, including a fellow officer, and injuries to three others. His violent rampage ended in a dramatic shootout with police at a cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains, where Dorner ultimately took his own life as the cabin burned down.
Before his killing spree, Dorner posted a bizarre manifesto on Facebook, claiming he had been unfairly dismissed from the LAPD and vowing revenge against law enforcement officers and their families.
The discovery of Dorner’s handgun—tucked inside a pillowcase—raises new questions in the ongoing investigation. It remains unclear how the suspects, identified as 21-year-old Colombian national Jamer Mauricio Sepulveda Salazar and 19-year-old Venezuelan national Jesus Eduardo Padron Rojas, came into possession of Dorner’s firearm or whether it was used in the Beverly Hills robbery.
The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations, the Beverly Hills Police Department, and the Blythe, California Police Department.
Following the search of the Airbnb, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Equinox, leading to the arrests of Sepulveda and Padron. Prosecutors linked the vehicle to another armed robbery in Beverly Hills on August 5, during which a $30,000 Rolex was stolen.
“We will not tolerate violent crime by organized groups exploiting our nation’s freedoms,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Our top priority is protecting our community, and those who threaten public safety will face justice. We are grateful for the quick actions of law enforcement in apprehending these suspects before they could do more harm.”
Sepulveda has been charged with interference with commerce by robbery and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. If convicted on all counts, he could face life in federal prison. Padron faces a conspiracy to commit robbery charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.
Both men are scheduled for arraignment in September at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
