20 October 2010 :

A Maricopa County Superior Court jury imposed the death penalty against Edward James Rose, 23, white, who pleaded guilty in the 2007 shooting death of a police officer, George Cortez. On July 27, 2007, Cortez, 23, Hispanic, answered a 911 call from a store, where Rose and his girlfriend, Norma Lopez, were reported to have tried to cash a forged and stolen check. The incident was captured on surveillance video. Police said Rose's girlfriend, Norma Lisa Lopez, distracted Officer George Cortez Jr. as he was trying to arrest Rose, which gave Rose the opportunity to shoot the officer. Rose pleaded guilty to 1st-degree murder in August, on the 1st day of his trial, saying he was high on meth. Rose pleaded guilty to 1st-degree murder, conspiracy, fraud, theft, forgery and burglary. Lopez pleaded guilty to charges 2nd-degree murder and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.