An 18-year-old and a 21-year-old were charged today with special circumstance murder in the fatal shooting of a Downey police officer last Wednesday night, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Steven Knott (dob 8/18/97) and Jeremy Anthony Alvarez (dob 8/7/94) are scheduled to be arraigned along with co-defendant Abel Diaz (dob 11/27/98) after 1:30 p.m. today in Downey at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Department 5, in case VA140624.

The three are each charged with one count of special circumstance murder and one count of attempted second-degree robbery. The amended complaint includes the special circumstance that the murder occurred during an attempted robbery.

The amended complaint also includes gun and gang allegations as to each defendant. Prosecutors will ask that each defendant be held without bail.

Deputy District Attorneys Michael Blake and Mary Murray with the Crimes Against Peace Officers Section are prosecuting the case.

Officer Ricardo Galvez, 29, a five-year veteran of the Downey Police Department, was shot and killed as he sat in his personal car in a parking lot adjacent to the police station on Nov. 18. Another officer who heard the shot gave chase. All three were arrested on Thursday.

If convicted, Knott and Alvarez could face the death penalty if prosecutors decide later to seek it. Diaz, because of his age, faces up to life in state prison if convicted as charged.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case VA140624. / November 23, 2015