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Officer Dies in Pursuit Crash; Suspect Charged with Murder

11/22/2025

41 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Officer Alec Sanders of the Alhambra Police Department died in a crash that ended a pursuit of a stolen Hyundai SUV on November 20, 2025.
The driver was 27-year-old Steven Zapata, who remains hospitalized.
Gabriela Moreno, a passenger, died in the crash.
Steven Zapata faces second-degree murder charges.
Alhambra Police Chief Garrett Kennedy announced flags will be lowered in Sanders' honor.

History

Historical Context

The 2021 death of Leneal Frazier in Minneapolis during a police pursuit echoes longstanding concerns about police chase policies. In 2016, a report revealed that African Americans were three times more likely to die in police chases. Following Frazier's death, which occurred amid rising crime and scrutiny of police tactics, calls for reform intensified, highlighting systemic issues in law enforcement practices.

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Story summary

Officer Alec Sanders of the Alhambra Police Department died in a crash that ended a pursuit of a stolen Hyundai SUV on November 20, 2025.
The driver was 27-year-old Steven Zapata, who remains hospitalized.
Gabriela Moreno, a passenger, died in the crash.
Steven Zapata faces second-degree murder charges.
Alhambra Police Chief Garrett Kennedy announced flags will be lowered in Sanders' honor.

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