Horrifying moment 'gang member' kills an off-duty sheriff's deputy and Vietnam veteran, 70, with a single punch to the head in road rage attack

  • San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputy Larry Falce died in hospital on Tuesday night
  • 'Career criminal' Alonzo Leron Smith, 30, has been charged with his murder
  • Smith punched Falce in the face on New Year's Eve after a fender bender 
  • The cop was driving in front of him but braked suddenly to avoid hitting a dog
  • It caused Smith to rear end him and the pair argued about it afterwards 
  • Surveillance footage captured the dispute and the moment Smith suddenly punched the man in the face
  • Falce lost consciousness immediately and Smith fled the scene in his car 
  • Smith was later arrested and has been charged with first degree murder 

By Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Surveillance footage has emerged of the moment a gang member allegedly killed a 70-year-old off-duty sheriff's deputy with a single punch to the head.

Lawrence Falce died in hospital in San Bernardino two days after being hit by a man named by police as 30-year-old Alonzo Leron Smith at around 11am on New Year's Eve.

Falce, who worked as a cop for 36 years after retiring from the US Army where he completed two tours of Vietnam, was driving in front of Smith when he hit the brakes on his car to avoid two dogs. Smith, who police describe as a 'career criminal', rear-ended him.

The pair then got out of their cars and argued by the side of the road as security cameras at a nearby store filmed them. 

After just 50 seconds of arguing, Smith delivered a single punch to the police officer's face, sending him falling backwards onto the sidewalk where he hit the back of his head, police say.

Falce never regained consciousness and died in hospital on Tuesday night.  

This is the moment Larry Falce, 70, (above in a striped shirt and light pants with his back to the camera) was floored by a single punch from gang member Alonzo Leron Smith (in black) at 11am on New Year's Eve in San Bernardino. They were arguing by the side of the road after Smith's white Ford (above left) rear-ended Falce's Chevrolet pick-up when he braked to avoid hitting two dogs 

This is the moment Larry Falce, 70, (above in a striped shirt and light pants with his back to the camera) was floored by a single punch from gang member Alonzo Leron Smith (in black) at 11am on New Year's Eve in San Bernardino. They were arguing by the side of the road after Smith's white Ford (above left) rear-ended Falce's Chevrolet pick-up when he braked to avoid hitting two dogs 

Smith fled the scene in his white car despite the efforts of a Good Samaritan who saw the attack unfold and rammed him with his own vehicle once he saw him trying to leave. 

That stranger, who declined to be named in an interview with KTLA for fear of reprisal from the gang Smith is associated with, said he then stayed with Falce until paramedics arrived.

Smith was arrested hours after the punch. He was arrested on assault charges at first but has since been charged with murder with special circumstances. 

He pleaded not guilty during a hearing on Wednesday afternoon. 

San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos cursed as he vowed to bring the man to justice at a press conference on Wednesday. 

'I will indicate to you that this defendant in this matter, we consider a career criminal. An admitted gang member.

Falce, an off-duty San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputy, got out of his truck to speak with Smith after the fender bender

Falce, an off-duty San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputy, got out of his truck to speak with Smith after the fender bender

The pair argued for less than a minute before Smith launched his punch. The entire altercation was captured on surveillance video from a store across the street 

The pair argued for less than a minute before Smith launched his punch. The entire altercation was captured on surveillance video from a store across the street 

Smith swung at Falce suddenly, hitting him in the head and sending him falling backwards

Smith swung at Falce suddenly, hitting him in the head and sending him falling backwards

With the 70-year-old lying unconscious on the sidewalk, Smith returned to his car to flee. A witness in a larger white truck on the other side of the road watched him 

With the 70-year-old lying unconscious on the sidewalk, Smith returned to his car to flee. A witness in a larger white truck on the other side of the road watched him 

As Smith tried to drive away, that witness rammed him with his larger vehicle to try to stop him 

As Smith tried to drive away, that witness rammed him with his larger vehicle to try to stop him 

Larry Falce, 70, died in hospital on Tuesday night. He was a 36-year police veteran and served in Vietnam for the US Army 

Larry Falce, 70, died in hospital on Tuesday night. He was a 36-year police veteran and served in Vietnam for the US Army 

'He went to state prison for selling marijuana and admitted he was a gang member with murder you can do 25 to life and this person needs to spend the rest of his life in prison. 

'We need to get this criminal off the street.' 

Of the number of gang members who escape prison time in California, he said: 'It's bulls***. I am sick, as the DA, having to deal with these people, especially when they take the life of one of our community members. 

'We're going to fight like hell. I'm going to guarantee you that we're going to hold this person responsible,' he said. 

Falce's colleagues within the sheriff's department paid tribute to him as a 'generous, honorable and hard-working' man. 

He is survived by his sister and his long-term girlfriend. 

Colleagues described Falce as 'generous', 'hardworking' and 'honorable'. He is survived by his long-term girlfriend and his sister
Colleagues described Falce as 'generous', 'hardworking' and 'honorable'. He is survived by his long-term girlfriend and his sister

Colleagues described Falce as 'generous', 'hardworking' and 'honorable'. He is survived by his long-term girlfriend and his sister

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