Thousands Honor Slain Riverside Officer

RIVERSIDE ( KTLA) -- Some 8,000 people were expected to attend funeral services Tuesday for a Riverside Police officer and Iraqi war veteran murdered during a traffic stop.

Services for Officer Ryan Bonaminio were taking place at 10 a.m. at The Grove Community Church, located at 19900 Grove Community Drive.

Before the service, dozens of police vehicles joined the funeral procession in the slain officer's honor.


Since the church has a maximum capacity of 1,900, a jumbo screen with thousands of chairs were set up for mourners to watch the service outside.

Bonaminio, 27, was shot to death following a traffic stop and pursuit near Market Street and Fairmount Park on Nov. 7.

Prosecutors on Monday announced that 44-year-old parolee, Earl Ellis Green, of Rubidoux, has been charged with murder in Bonaminio's death.

He is also charged with vehicle theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm. His arraignment on Monday was postponed until Dec. 16 so that he could be evaluated by a psychotherapist.

The murder charge includes special circumstance allegations that could make Green eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors say they will decide within two weeks whether they will seek the death penalty.s

Authorities say Green shot Bonaminio during a foot chase through Fairmount Park.

According to police Chief Sergio Diaz, Officer Bonaminio slipped and fell during the chase and was in a "vulnerable position."

"It is clear from the evidence and several witnesses that Officer Bonaminio pleaded for his life before he was murdered," Pacheco said, adding that Green ignored those pleas and shot the officer anyway.

The incident began with a call reporting a hit and run accident involving a big rig at the 60 Freeway and Market Street.

Officer Bonaminio, who was on routine patrol, responded to the call and attempted to stop a semi-truck believed to be involved in the crash, Sgt. Jaybree Brennan of the Riverside Police Department told KTLA.

The trucker eventually pulled over in front of Fairmount Park, where he got out of the vehicle and started running, Brennan said.

Bonaminio got out of his squad car and chased the suspect.

When back-up officers arrived, they found Bonaminio on the ground with a gunshot wound.

He was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died.

Detectives believe Bonaminio was shot with his own duty weapon.

Investigators say it appears the suspect got back into the big-rig and drove off.

The truck was a stolen rental big rig recovered a few miles away from the crime scene.

Green was arrested two days later at a Target store in the 300 block of Arlington Ave in Riverside. A flatbed truck Green and a female companion were working on at the time of the arrest was towed away by police, according to witnesses.

Officer Bonaminio was a four year veteran of the department and a U.S. Army Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He is the department's first slain officer in nearly 9 years.

The city of Riverside, Riverside City Council and Riverside County Board of Supervisors authorized $100,000 payouts for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Additional awards being offered by Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Riverside Police Officers Association, the District Attorney's office, US Marshals, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms bring the total to more than $390,000.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Riverside police at (951) 787-7911, or contact Detective Ron Sanfilippo at (951) 353-7105 or Detective Greg Rowe at (951) 353-7130.

Donations can be made to the "Officer and Family Assistance Fund" via the Riverside Police Officers' Association, 1965 Chicago Ave Suite B, Riverside, CA 92507, Phone (951) 784-1034 or log on to www.rpoa.org.

Riverside County court records show Green has spent time in state prison twice for domestic violence charges, and once for felony vandalism.