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# July 4, 2000 pier stand-off trials come to a close
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/july-4-2000-pier-stand-off-trials-come-to-a-close/
- Published: 2005-12-31T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:28:17.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Pier, #archive-import

Justice was finally realized in March after a Los Angeles jury found two gang members guilty on nearly 50 charges for a crime spree that began two months prior and ended with the July 4, 2000 Santa Monica Pier shoot-out with law enforcement.

Sentenced to death were Oswaldo Amezcua, 29, and Joseph Conrad Flores, 34, gang members who ignited a stand-off with police more than five years ago, during which five people were shot and 15 taken hostage on the Santa Monica Pier. Three Santa Monica police officers and two civilians were shot.

The five-hour stand-off began after midnight on July 4, 2000, and ended in the morning dawn with the surrender of Amezcua, a convicted felon wanted in connection with five other slayings.

The jury found Amezcua and Flores guilty of the April 11 murder of John Luis Diaz; the May 25 murder of Arturo Madrigal; and the June 19 double-murder of George Orlando Flores (no relation to the defendant) and Luis George Reyes.

Both defendants also were convicted of attempted murder, arson, second-degree robbery, shooting at an inhabited dwelling and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Amezcua also was convicted of multiple counts of attempted murder of a peace officer for the stand-off at the pier.

The shoot-out began shortly after Santa Monica Police received a phone call around 1 a.m. from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department telling them Flores was on the pier. Investigators had located Flores by placing a call to his pager and tracing the call.

Police arrived and managed to take Flores into custody after an altercation. Amezcua, however, ran into the nearby Playland Arcade. He attempted to exit the rear of the arcade, but encountered officers and opened fire, according to police.

Amezcua then took 15 people hostage, finally releasing the last of the hostages and surrendering at 6:40 a.m.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/123105.pdf?ref=smdp.com)