Introduction to the Case
One of two men charged with the shooting death of an off-duty Monterey Park police officer during what authorities called a botched daytime robbery attempt in a parking lot in Downey pleaded no contest Friday, Sept. 12 to voluntary manslaughter.
Details of the Plea
Gerardo Magallanes, now 21, is facing 24 years and eight months in state prison in connection with the Aug. 8, 2022, slaying of off-duty Officer Gardiel Solorio, 26, according to Deputy District Attorney Geoff Lewin. Magallanes — who is due back in a Norwalk courtroom for sentencing Sept. 29 — also pleaded no contest to unlawful firearm activity and admitted an allegation that he furnished a firearm, along with a gang allegation, the prosecutor said.
The Alleged Gunman
The alleged gunman, Carlos Delcid, now 23, is awaiting trial on one count each of murder, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon involving the shooting, along with one count of second-degree robbery involving an April 2022 robbery in Long Beach. The murder charge against Delcid includes the special circumstance allegations of murder during the commission of an attempted robbery and attempted carjacking, along with allegations that he personally discharged a handgun during each of the crimes. Delcid could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged.
Investigation and Evidence
At a hearing last year in which Delcid was ordered to stand trial, Downey police Detective Ron Gee testified that surveillance video showed one person in a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark jeans and a full black ski mask getting out of a black Honda Accord, with the sound of five gunshots subsequently being heard. The Honda was stopped that night by Long Beach police, and Delcid and a teenager who was driving were taken into custody, according to the detective. Delcid was wearing dark jeans and a white tank top at the time, and a gray hooded sweatshirt and a full black face mask were later discovered inside the vehicle, Gee testified. Magallanes was arrested three days later, according to the detective.
Other Involved Parties
The teenager who was driving the getaway car and was 17 at the time was sentenced last month to 11 years in custody after pleading no contest in adult court to voluntary manslaughter, according to the prosecutor. During a jailhouse operation after his arrest, Magallanes told undercover operatives that he was in the vehicle with Delcid and the teenager and that they were going to try to “come up on” — or rob — someone, the detective testified at the February 2024 hearing. Magallanes said during the undercover operation that he heard five “pops” after seeing Delcid — whom he identified by the moniker “Reckless” — getting out of the car and going to the Dodge Charger, with Delcid subsequently getting back in the getaway vehicle, according to the testimony.
Previous Crimes
Long Beach police Detective Jacqueline Parkhill testified during last year’s hearing that the victim of an April 26, 2022, robbery in Long Beach told police that he had been robbed of his “chain” by a man who ripped it off his neck, demanded his wallet and fired a shot toward the ground in his direction when the victim balked at his demand. The detective said she believed that man was 75% confident that a photo depicting Delcid was his assailant, but said that man also indicated that there was a chance that it could have been another person shown to him in the collection of photos.
The Victim
At an August 2022 news conference announcing the charges, then-Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Solorio was in his vehicle in the parking lot of an LA Fitness gym in the 12700 block of Lakewood Boulevard, near the Glenn Anderson (105) Freeway, when a suspect — later identified as Delcid — allegedly got out of a car nearby and approached Solorio “with a gun drawn in what appeared to be an attempted robbery.” “Officer Solorio attempted to flee by backing up his vehicle when the suspect fired multiple times,” Gascón said. “The (suspect) then returned back to the vehicle, where a juvenile was behind the wheel and they fled the scene.” Solorio, who was a rookie just weeks out of the academy, was found unresponsive in his car by authorities and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Reaction from the Police Department
Then-Monterey Park Police Department Chief Kelly Gordon called his killing “a senseless act of violence.” Gordon said at a news conference that Solorio, who grew up in Bell Gardens and graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with a degree in criminal justice, joined the department as a recruit in January, and had just graduated from the sheriff’s training academy on July 22 before beginning his field training July 25. “Although his time with (the department) was very short, we all knew from the moment we met him that he had the heart of service and was going to be a great officer,” she said then. “And I could tell that from the moment he walked in and did our first introductions in my office. The family and department are grieving right now, and this is an especially difficult tragedy. It’s a senseless act of violence. He was only 26 years old. I don’t know about all of you, but I have children that age. So to me, this is particularly difficult.”
Conclusion
The case of the shooting death of off-duty Monterey Park police officer Gardiel Solorio is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers. The plea of no contest by Gerardo Magallanes and the upcoming trial of Carlos Delcid bring some measure of justice to the victim and his family, but the senseless act of violence will never be forgotten.
FAQs
Q: What was the charge against Gerardo Magallanes?
A: Gerardo Magallanes pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter.
Q: What is the potential sentence for Gerardo Magallanes?
A: Magallanes is facing 24 years and eight months in state prison.
Q: What are the charges against Carlos Delcid?
A: Delcid is awaiting trial on one count each of murder, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon, among other charges.
Q: What is the potential sentence for Carlos Delcid if convicted?
A: Delcid could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged.
Q: What was the age of the victim, Gardiel Solorio?
A: Solorio was 26 years old at the time of his death.
Originally Published: September 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM PDT
