Downey Calvary Chapel to host services for slain Whittier police officer
Image from Blue Lives Matter
DOWNEY – Calvary Chapel Downey will host a public funeral service Friday for Keith Boyer, the Whittier police officer shot and killed in the line of duty last week.
Services begin at 10 a.m., followed by a procession to Rose Hills Memorial Park for burial.
Boyer was fatally shot Feb. 20 while responding to a crash near Colima Road and Mar Vista Street.
Michael Christopher Mejia, 26, was charged with two counts of murder and one count each of attempted murder, carjacking and possession of a firearm by a felon.
On Feb. 20, Mejia is accused of fatally shooting his 47-year-old cousin, Roy Torres, in East Los Angeles. He allegedly took the victim’s car and later crashed the vehicle into two other cars in Whittier.
Police responded to the crash and when they ordered Mejia to get out of his car the defendant is accused of pulling out a semiautomatic handgun and firing at two officers.
Boyer, 53, was killed and Officer Patrick Hazell was wounded in the shootout. Mejia also was wounded.
Mejia has prior convictions for second-degree robbery in 2010 and grand theft auto in 2014.
If convicted as charged, Mejia faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made at a later date.
The Whittier Police Officers Association has created a fund for people to make donations on behalf of Boyer and his family.
Donations to the WPOA Benevolent Fund can be made in person at the Whittier branch of the Credit Union of Southern California, 8028 Greenleaf Ave. Checks should be made out to WPOA Benevolent Fund and reference account number 488879.
Checks can also be mailed to Credit Union of Southern California, WPOA Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 200, Whittier, CA, 90608, Attn: David Valencia.