On Saturday, two Los Angeles County Sheriff officers were clinging to life after being shot point-blank through their patrol car window while at a Metro rail station. The Sheriff’s Department reported that the shooting occurred at about 7 p.m. near the Blue Line station at 275 Willowbrook Avenue. The LA Times reported, "The video, released by the department, shows a man walking up to the deputies’ parked patrol car, pulling out a gun and firing several times into the front seat area from the passenger side. The assailant is then seen running from the scene. On Sunday, officials asked for the public’s help to locate the person who opened fire." The LA County Sheriff's Department tweeted shortly after the incident occurred, "Moments ago, 2 of our Sheriff Deputies were shot in Compton and were transported to a local hospital. They are both still fighting for their lives, so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers."
The Sheriff's department also tweeted, "Update: One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle. Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and are in critical condition. They are both currently undergoing surgery. The suspect is still at large." Local CBS Los Angeles reporter, Adrianna Weingold tweeted on Sunday, "Sources tell me [a] female deputy was shot in the jaw, and in both arms. stable but critical and will require surgery for the jaw. [The] male deputy was shot twice in the forehead. The rounds did not penetrate. Also shot 4 times in the right arm and 1 time in [the] right hand. awake and talking."
"The 31-year-old female deputy, who is the mother of a 6-year-old boy and 24-year-old male deputy both underwent surgery Saturday evening", said Sheriff Alex Villanueva in a Facebook live news conference. "Both graduated from the academy 14 months ago", he said. Although severely injured, the female deputy still radioed for help & applied a tourniquet to the male deputy’s wounds.
“We really need the public’s help in apprehending the suspect,” Deputy Juanita Navarro said late Saturday. “There’s a very dangerous individual free right now. Our main goal is utilizing all our resources to locate him — and we’re not going to stop.” The Sheriff's Department later tweeted that protesters were blocking the entrance and exit of the Hospital Emergency. "To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling 'We hope they die' referring to 2 LA Sheriff's ambushed today in #Compton: DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ENTRIES & EXITS TO THE HOSPITAL. People's lives are at stake when ambulances can't get through."
"BLM protesters trying to breach St. Francis hospital where two officers are fighting for their lives after being shot in an ambush. 'Y`all gonna die one by one. This ain't gonna stop.' " and another protester yelling, "To their family: I hope they f**king die.”
Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez with the Churches in Action group who was there at the hospital told the TV station KABC-TV, [That this is] “Unacceptable behavior. The hospital should be a sanctuary, we should leave hospitals alone,” he said. Mendez and members of his group gathered nearby in prayer for the wounded deputies. Supporters and well-wishers organized a car parade in support of the two deputies at the hospital on Sunday.
According to a report by the Daily Mail UK, "A radio reporter who was near the protest scene was taken into custody, KABC-TV reported. The sheriff's department later tweeted that the reporter interfered with the arrest of a male protester." The police later added, "After deputies issued a dispersal order for the unlawful assembly of a group of protesters blocking the hospital emergency entrance & exits, a male adult protester refused to comply & cooperate. During his arrest, a struggle ensued at which time a female adult ran towards the deputies, ignored repeated commands to stay back as they struggled with the male and interfered with the arrest." The member of the press did not identify herself as press and admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person.
President Trump took to Twitter and stated that the people who do this type of crime are "Animals that must be hit hard!" and in a separate tweet, that whoever did this should receive the death penalty, "If they die, fast trial death penalty for the killer. Only way to stop this!"
The President held a Peaceful Protest in Nevada last night stated, “This animal goes up to the car — two unsuspecting fine people. They are fine people. They are in very grave condition as you know. He’s an animal. And I called him an animal, as you know, and I was criticized by people for calling him an animal. They said he’s a human being. He’s not a human being. He’s an animal,” Trump continued.
The Sheriff's Department is offering a $100K REWARD OFFER in the Manhunt for the Suspect in the ambush shooting of the 2 LA Sheriff’s Deputies. They released the following statement, "Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide investigators are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting of two LASD deputies. The incident was reported Saturday, September 12, 2020, at approximately 6:58 p.m., at the MLK Transit Center in Compton. A lone gunman ambushed two of our deputies last night. The suspect approached the vehicle from behind and fired several rounds from his firearm at the deputies, striking them. The deputies sustained critical injuries.
The suspect is described as a male Black 28-30 years-old, wearing dark clothing. He was last seen northbound on Willowbrook Avenue in a black 4-door sedan. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has authorized a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. There is no additional information available at this time.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said “We at the LASD would like to offer our sincerest appreciation for the overwhelming support being offered from all over the Nation. We also wish to thank the LA County Board of Supervisors for sponsoring the $100K reward for the arrest and conviction of this coward." Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477)."
The female deputy, is reportedly in stable but critical condition, after being shot in the jaw and both arms. The male deputy is awake and talking after being shot in the forehead, arm, and hand.
