Former CHP officer, DUI suspect charged with murder in crash that killed 4

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the sequence of events in the crash. A former California Highway Patrol officer and a woman driving a separate vehicle have both been charged with murder in a 2025 crash on the 605 Freeway in Norwalk that left four people dead, the Los Angeles County district attorney announced Monday. "It was an extremely detailed, rigorous and thorough investigation," L.A. County D.A. Nathan Hockman said during a news conference. "Looking at every video camera that was involved. Looking at every type of evidence that they could get their hands on, and at the end, we determined that the appropriate charge in this case is the most serious charge we can bring. That of murder. Murder in the second degree." The charges stem from a July 19, 2025, crash involving a CHP cruiser, a Nissan and a Kia, all headed southbound on the 605 just north of the 105 interchange. Prosecutors allege that former CHP Officer Angelo Rodriguez, 24, was speeding at 130 mph in the HOV lane without lights or sirens when his cruiser clipped a Nissan. The Nissan became disabled in the number two lane, where it was then struck by a Kia and burst into flames. All four people inside the Nissan were killed. Two people in the Kia, including 27-year-old Iris Salmeron, were seriously injured. Investigators later determined Salmeron was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, according to the DA's office. The victims, all 24 years old, were identified as Julie Harmori, her boyfriend Armand Del Campo, and their friends Jordan Partridge and Sam Skocilic. Harmori’s aunt, Kathy Stickel, said Partridge called his mother after the initial collision with the CHP car as they waited for help inside the disabled vehicle. “And in the middle of a sentence, the line went dead,” Stickel said. Rodriguez was uninjured in the crash, but Hochman shared further details Monday about his role in the crash, including pulling over to the right emergency lane before turning off his audio recording system. "He's sitting there for three minutes," Hochman said. "He doesn't go ahead and radio in the accident that just occurred. He takes absolutely no steps during those three minutes to deal with the disabled Nissan that he has just crashed into. At one point, he actually gets out of the car and inspects the damage to his own car, but that car is able to function and drive off. And he doesn't turn on the lights and sirens or activate the audio system inside the patrol car, so we don't know what was said at that point and time." Hochman said that about a minute later, Rodriguez called dispatch to report the crash, but did not mention that he was involved Rodriguez, who has since lost his job with the CHP, and Salmeron now both face second-degree murder charges. "Both Miss Salmeron and former Officer Rodriguez are now facing a situation where life in prison is the maximum punishment," Hockman said. They were each being held on $4 million bail as of Monday.