OCEANSIDE, Ca. -- A 17-year-old boy accused in the shooting death of an Oceanside police officer has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges.

Meki Gaono, who will be tried as an adult, was ordered held on $5 million bail and will return to Superior Court in Vista on Feb. 6 for a preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors on Friday began examining police reports and other evidence against two teenagers arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Oceanside police Officer Dan Bessant.

A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody Thursday morning and a 16-year-old was booked later that evening in connection with the death of Bessant, a three-year department veteran.

The boys' names have been withheld because they are minors.

A decision on what charges to bring will be made Tuesday, said Deputy District Attorney Tom Manning.

Because the crime involves the killing of a police officer, it is possible that one or both boys could be charged directly as adults.

Bessant, 25, was gunned down while assisting another officer with a traffic stop.

Bessant was shot in his left armpit about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday while helping Officer Karina Pina, 28, who had requested backup after stopping a motorist for a vehicle-code violation at Gold Drive and Arthur Avenue.

Bessant was pronounced dead a short time later at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

Investigators believe the bullet that struck Bessant near the edge of his bullet-resistant vest was fired from a home about a half-block away.

Bessant, a husband and father of a 2-month-old boy, became the second Oceanside officer to be killed in the line of duty over the past four years.

Rookie Officer Tony Zeppetella, 27, was also fatally shot during a traffic stop in June 2003. He also had a wife and young son.

His killer, gang member Adrian Camacho, 31, has been sentenced to death.

Last summer, Zeppetella's widow won a $2.3 million settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit she filed against the manufacturers of her husband's bullet-resistant vest.

The Oceanside Police Officers Association has established a memorial fund to benefit Bessant's family. Contributions can be made to Washington Mutual account No. 313-3219879 at any of the bank's branch offices.

Oceanside Police Dept., Family Announce Funeral Arrangements

The public viewing will be held on Wednesday at the Ambassador Church (1602 S. El Camino Real) between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at the New Venture Church (4000 Mystra Way) at 10:00 a.m. A private reception will follow the church service.

Oceanside police officers will be staging at the Oceanside Police Department at 7:30 a.m. for the procession to New Venture Church, and it will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. Officers from outside agencies will be staging at the Plaza Camino Real Shopping Center in Carlsbad and they will join the procession in progress at it reaches Highway 78.

Bessant Family Statement:

"Dan loved being a cop, and he was a good one. He was a great husband and daddy who enjoyed spending all of his free time with his family. Dan was a lot of fun to be with and he was liked by everyone. He will be missed by many," Bessant's family said.

The community has shown their support for Bessant's family by setting up a makeshift memorial at the Oceanside police headquarters.

The family would also like to extend its gratitude to the community for their outpour of support as they cope with their loss.