San Jose Police Department, California
End of Watch: Thursday, August 6, 1970
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 47
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 6, 1970
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Richard Huerta was ambushed while issuing a citation at 2:00 am at 11th Street and Julian Avenue in San Jose.
Officer Huerta stopped two youths for running a stop light. While he was writing the ticket in his patrol vehicle, a person unrelated to the situation approached and fired six shots. After striking Officer Huerta four times, the subject fled on foot. The youths were not injured and went to the police station to report the shooting.
The subject, who was the son of an Oakland police officer, was convicted of Officer Huerta's murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. As of November 24, 2022, he was in a California Prison Medical Facility in Vacaville, having been denied parole for 5 years.
Officer Huerta had served with the San Jose Police Department for 7 years. He was survived by his two children.