Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Tony Zeppetella was shot and killed after he stopped a vehicle belonging to a known 28-year-old gang member.
He had stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of a Navy Federal Credit Union branch at the the intersection of Avenida de la Plata and College Boulevard. As Officer Zeppetella was walking back to his vehicle after contacting the driver, the man opened fire, striking him in the neck. Officer Zeppetella was able to return fire, hitting the suspect once in the leg. After Officer Zeppetella fell, the suspect exited his vehicle, approached him, and pistol whipped him before shooting him again with his own service weapon. The man then stole Officer Zeppetella's patrol car and fled the scene.
Several U.S. Marine Corps and Navy paramedics patronizing the bank at the scene immediately began administering first aid before Oceanside Fire and Paramedics arrived. Officer Zeppetella was transported to the Palomar Medical Center where he died from his wounds.
The suspect fled to the home of his former in-laws and barricaded himself on the second floor. He surrendered to police after a 4-hour stand-off and was charged with murder.
On November 14th, 2005, he was convicted of several charges, including first-degree murder with special circumstances. He was subsequently sentenced to death on February 7th, 2006.
Officer Zeppetella was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Oceanside Police Department for 13 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, six-month-old son, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-43A15082- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Zeppetella gave the Oceanside Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Oceanside community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Tony Willi Zeppetella served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Tony Willi Zeppetella is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Oceanside Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Tony Willi Zeppetella's cause is highlighted.
How Tony Willi Zeppetella Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tony Willi Zeppetella is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Tony Willi Zeppetella was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Oceanside Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
