Marco Topete, who had a long history of violence and was on parole from Pelican Bay State Prison, gunned down Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputy Jose Antonio Diaz in 2008. Deputy Diaz had been trying to stop Topete after a high-speed chase. Even more alarming, the suspect’s infant son was in the car’s back seat at the time. Evidence showed that Topete abandoned the car, then ambushed the deputy with an AK47 assault rifle, firing 17 shots as the officer checked on the child’s status.
Topete was identified as a high-ranking member of the Norteño gang member, and had been in prison for trying to shoot three rival gang members in Woodland. He was sent to San Quentin in 2012 after a judge noted the vicious and callous nature of the crime.
