FONTANA - Rialto Police officer Anthony Quinonez gave tearful testimony Friday about the shooting death of fellow officer and friend Sergio Carrera while serving a search warrant for suspected drug sales.

Carrera suffered a fatal gunshot while he and other members of the Rialto SWAT team were serving the warrant Oct. 18, 2007, at a West Cascade Drive apartment.

Krist Antonio Wiggins, who lived at the location, is on trial in Fontana Superior Court where he faces criminal charges in Carrera's death that, if he is convicted, could send him to state prison for the rest of his life.

While searching the living room and kitchen areas, Quinonez testified that he heard gunfire down a hallway toward the bedrooms, yelling and the sound of people fighting. After yells of "Rialto Police Department - search warrant!" suddenly came the distressing call of "Officer down!"

An emotional Quinonez, answering questions from prosecutor Cary Epstein, described how he saw two SWAT officers carrying a fellow officer through the hallway and back out of the house.

"He appeared to be limp, and he wasn't moving," Quinonez said. "I knew I lost a partner and a friend."

Quinonez is the first witness to testify in the trial. Wiggins faces one count of murder and special circumstances that the victim was a police officer. If convicted, the defendant could be sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole.

Testimony is expected to continue Monday.

Rialto police have said they raided Wiggins' apartment, which he shared with a girlfriend and three children, because they suspected rock cocaine was being sold there.

Sheriff's Department investigators say Wiggins tried to flee down the hallway from the six-man SWAT entry team that came into the apartment. In a bedroom, Wiggins fought with SWAT officer John Black, who had his AR-15 rifle slung over chest.

The two men wrestled on the bedroom floor, with Black's rifle between them. At least one other officer also tried to help control and detain Wiggins when the first gunshot fired, according to investigators. Quinonez testified there was a pause and then two more shots.

While prosecutors allege Wiggins killed Carrera with Black's weapon during the fight, the defense has said that Wiggins did not pull the trigger.

Deputy Public Defender George Wright has also alleged that the search warrant was based on false information. No evidence of drugs or weapons were found in the apartment, according to authorities.

Both lawyers delivered their opening remarks to the jury, to start the testimony phase of the trial, shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday.

Wiggins is also wanted on a $100,000 warrant out of Grenada, Miss., on suspicion of selling rock cocaine. A judge had lowered the bail to $30,000 there, and Wiggins jumped bond, according to Grenada County Sheriff's Department.

mike.cruz@inlandnewspapers.com
909-386-3880