Flores Peak is named for the outlaw Juan Flores, who led a gang of bandits that terrorized this area in the late 1850's. In January 1857, the gang murdered a shopkeeper in San Juan Capistrano. While pursuing the gang, LA County Sheriff James Barton and several of his deputies were ambushed and killed. A posse quickly formed, and soon 100 riders chased the bandits to the top of the peak. Flores alone escaped by making a daring leap from the cliff on horseback. He was eventually captured and brought to Los Angeles, where he was hung on February 14, 1857. James Barton was the first L.A.County Sheriff killed in the line of duty.