Aaron Luther Biography

Aaron Luther has been identified as the suspect who killed a CHP officer, identified as Andre Moye, and wounded two others in a shootout in Riverside on August 12, 2019 after he was pulled over. He was an ex-con who served 10 years in prison for attempted murder. He was killed in the shootout.

Aaron Luther Age

Luther was 49 years old and hailed from Beaumont.

Aaron Luther Riverside Shooting

On August 12, 2019 Aaron Luther shot and killed one CHP officer and seriously wounded two others in a shootout in Riverside. The shooting was reported around 5:35 p.m. in the area of Box Springs Boulevard and Eastridge Avenue, near the 215 Freeway. According to the police report, a CHP officer conducted a traffic stop of a suspect in a GMC pickup truck and then decided to impound the vehicle. As he was calling for a tow truck and filling out paperwork, the suspect entered the truck, retrieved a rifle and began firing at the office.

footage of #riverside shooting pic.twitter.com/OH16odmG2T

— Perennele (@Perennele1) August 13, 2019

The officer called for help and three additional CHP officers came to the scene, along with three deputies from the Riverside sheriff’s department and one Riverside police officer. The gun battle ensued with one officer killed and two others seriously injured. The suspect was also shot dead.

The police gave the following account:

“The situation began at 5:35 p.m., when Moye, 34, stopped the driver of a white GMC pickup for an unknown offense at the Eastridge Avenue/Eucalyptus Avenue offramp. At some point during the traffic stop, Moye decided to impound the vehicle and called for a tow truck.

It was not immediately clear where Luther was heading when he was stopped. While Moye was filling out paperwork, the driver got a rifle from his truck and started shooting at the officer.

Moye returned fire, and even though he had been shot, he was able to radio for help. Three other CHP officers soon arrived, followed by three deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and at least one officer from the Riverside Police Department.”

The deceased officer was the original officer who conducted the traffic stop, he was transported to a hospital in Moreno Valley and was pronounced dead. He was identified as Andre Moye Jr. who was 33 years old, married but with no children. According to his family members he had been with the CHP for about four years.

CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley tweeted; “I am devastated by the tragedy that unfolded earlier in Riverside. Tonight, I mourn the loss of one of our own, CHP Officer Andre Moye, who was killed during a shootout following a traffic stop. Prayers go out to all, including the responding officers injured in the shooting.”

Aaron Luther Motive

It is not clear what prompted the shooting but Aaron’s father Dennis Luther told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that Aaron had recently been depressed and was a ‘desperate man’ and he was trying to turn his life around after spending time in prison.

“I think he just thought he didn’t have much to live for. This might just have been suicide by the police. It’s just unfortunate that he happened to hurt anybody but himself.”

Aaron Luther Vago

Local investigators initially thought Luther had ties to the Vagos motorcycle gang, one of the nation’s largest and most dangerous outlaw biker gangs, alongside Hells Angels and the Mongols. However, federal experts familiar with the Vagos say he is not a member.

Aaron Luther Father

Aaron was the son of Dennis Luther who said that his son was a top-notch skateboarder growing up in Covina . He said after he heard about the shooting he prayed for the officer before he prayed for his son;

“No one deserves what happened to them and if (Aaron) went and did that, he got what he deserved. You don’t go doing that kind of stuff and expect to walk home. He obviously lost it somehow or another. I wished he would have called me. I didn’t get that opportunity.”

He added that he was grieving for police, as well as his son.

“We’re standing behind law enforcement, “I sent a prayer for the police before I did for my son. … I’m reminiscing now about when he was 8 years old, when I bought him his first skateboard.”

Aaron Luther Wife

Aaron was married to McKenzie Luther. After the shootout she told the Southern California News Group that she was sorry for the officer’s, who was killed, family; “I’m so sorry for the officer I know his family is going through the same thing I am.”

She also revealed that Aaron called her shortly after he was pulled over, saying he had been driving alone in the carpool lane with an expired license and no registration — and with a rifle he couldn’t legally own because of his felony record. She added that Aaron said his car was being impounded and he needed a ride.

Mckenzie said she was just pulling off the 215 Freeway near Eastridge and Eucalyptus avenues when she heard the “pop pop pop” of bullets. One of the bullets flew through the windshield of the car she was driving with her children.

She said she was not sure what prompted Aaron to grab the riffle despite wanting to support the family but she added that he was depressed.

“Maybe it was suicide by cop, he wasn’t out to kill cops. … I’m so sorry for the officer (who Luther killed). I know his family is going through the same thing I am.”

She added he was not a racist. He did what he had to in prison, where “the whites are with the whites and the Mexicans are with the Mexicans,” but he was friendly with Latinos, including her Latino children.

She also said he wasn’t a monster and she would want people to know that; “He wasn’t a monster. People should know — I think it was random and I’m so sorry. So sorry.”

Aaron Luther Children

Aaron together with his wife had three children two of the children were biological and one was adopted from his wife previous relationship. His wife said he liked playing paintball with them when his knees allowed it.

Aaron Luther Criminal Record

According to public records and law enforcement sources, Luther had a lengthy criminal record dating to the late 1980s in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. His convictions include disturbing the peace, vandalism, battery, stalking, unlawful possession of a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon and corporal injury on a spouse.

In 1994 he was convicted of burglary and attempted second-degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for use of a firearm in Los Angeles County. He was sentenced to 12 years in state prison, according to the California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, and was paroled in 2004. He was discharged from parole in 2007.