A suspect in the murder of a recently compromised Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was arrested after an hours-long standoff with police Monday morning, authorities announced.
Kevin Salazar, 29, was arrested at his home in Palmdale, California, after barricading himself inside when police showed up with an arrest warrant.
SWAT officers and hostage specialists negotiated with Salazar for “several hours” before he finally surrendered when chemical deterrents were fired at the home, LASD Sheriff Rober Luna said at a news conference.
“Our officers gave this suspect the opportunity to peacefully surrender. That is not the right they gave our deputy three days ago here on the street,” Luna said.
Salazar is suspected of driving alongside the patrol car of Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, a third-generation LASD officer, before shooting through the window and fatally hitting the officer in the head Saturday night. Clinkunbroomer had been engaged just four days before his murder.
Clinkunboomer was executed at a red light near the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Saturday night. youtube/fox 11
Investigators are “extremely confident that we have the right person in custody,” Luna said, but added that the motivation behind the shooting remains unclear.
“We still don’t know why they killed him,” Luna said, before reiterating previous suspicions that Clinkunbroomer had been targeted because he was a police officer.
Salazar was arrested 36 hours after the murder. Luna said tips from the community were crucial in identifying him through the car seen involved in the murder.
When police arrived at Salazar’s home, several family members voluntarily left before the confrontation began. It remains to be seen if any of them will face charges.
Several weapons were also removed from Salazar’s home.
Clinkunbroomer was rushed to Antelope Valley Medical Center after the shooting, but died there from his injuries.
Sheriff Robert Luna said during the press conference that he believes this may have been a targeted attack because Clickunboomer was in uniform. Youtube/Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Investigators said they believe Clinkunbroomer was ambushed and executed in cold blood without any apparent provocation.
Surveillance video obtained by the sheriff’s office showed a dark gray Toyota Corolla approaching the deputy’s patrol car at a red light just before the shooting.
The sheriff’s office had released screenshots of the suspect vehicle and announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman.
“We’re going to catch the person who did this,” Luna said before Salazar was taken into custody. “All the resources that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has to endure are coming after you.”
In security video posted by Fox 11, a dark car is seen pulling up next to the officer’s patrol car moments before he is believed to have been shot. Youtube/Fox 11
Clinkunbroomer was an eight-year veteran of the force and had been a field training officer for almost two years.
Both his grandfather and father served in the sheriff’s office before him.
“He embodied the values of bravery, altruism and an absolute commitment to justice,” Luna said. “Our deputy was a devoted family member and beloved member of our community who was cowardly shot while he worked tirelessly to serve our community. Our hearts absolutely go out to his family.”
About 1,000 people attended a vigil for the slain deputy outside the sheriff’s station in Palmdale on Sunday night.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn