Accused killer of 2 California police officers charged with murder

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palm springs police

Reuters/Sam Mircovich

Armed police officers are shown during a standoff where three officers were shot by a suspect in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Reuters) - The man accused of fatally shooting two police officers and wounding a third in Palm Springs, California, over the weekend has been formally charged with murder and attempted murder, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

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The suspect, John Felix, 26, would be eligible for the death penalty if convicted as charged, but prosecutors said they would decide at a later date whether to seek capital punishment.

The two officers slain on Saturday were the first killed in the line of duty in 54 years in Palm Springs, a normally placid desert resort town about 100 miles (161 km) east of Los Angeles.

One was a 63-year-old veteran of the Palm Springs police force who planned to retire in December and the other a 27-year-old rookie officer who had just returned to duty from maternity leave.

They were shot through the front door of a home as they responded to a report of a family disturbance at the address. Felix, who surrendered to police early on Sunday after an hours-long standoff at the house, was previously convicted in 2010 of assault with a firearm, according toCalifornia criminal records.

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Felix is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday in the double police killing.