Gustavo Morales received a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole in court on Tuesday for the murder of Salinas Officer Jorge Alvarado. Morales ambushed and killed Officer Alvarado during a traffic stop last year, just two weeks before Alvarado’s scheduled wedding. The court described Morales as a coward, a monster, a menace to society, and the “devil’s hitman.”
During the sentencing, a fellow officer who was first on the scene of the shooting expressed that she may never wear the uniform again due to Morales’s actions. Other individuals impacted by Morales’s crime spoke of the loss of a selfless and dedicated public servant. Judge Rafael Vazquez stated that Morales’s cold and callous actions had destroyed the hopes and dreams of the Alvarado family.
Morales showed little remorse or regret throughout the trial and was occasionally seen yawning during Tuesday’s sentencing. At one point, he even smirked when a family member made a comment in court. The judge sentenced Morales to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Alvarado family expressed their satisfaction with the sentence, stating that while the death penalty would have been preferred, life without parole was the best outcome they could agree on. They believe that justice has been served, allowing them to find peace and heal properly.
