Suspected killer of LA County sheriff’s deputy arrested after hours-long standoff with SWAT teams
A suspect in the killing of a newly engaged Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was arrested after an hours-long standoff with police Monday morning, officials announced.
Kevin Salazar, 29, was arrested at his home in Palmdale, California, after barricading himself inside when cops showed up with a warrant for his arrest.
SWAT officers and hostage specialists negotiated with Salazar for “several hours” before he finally surrendered when chemical deterrents were fired into the home, LASD Sheriff Rober Luna said in a press conference.
“Our deputies gave this suspect an opportunity to peacefully give up. That is not the right that was afforded to our deputy three days ago out here on the street,” Luna said.
Salazar is suspected of driving alongside the squad car of 30-year-old Ryan Clinkunbroomer — a third-generation LASD officer — before firing through the window and fatally striking the deputy in the head Saturday night. Clinkunbroomer had gotten engaged just four days before his murder.
Investigators are “extremely confident we have the right person in custody,” Luna said, but added that the motivation behind the shooting remained unclear.
“We don’t know yet why he was killed,” 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 community tips were crucial in identifying him through the car seen involved in the murder.
When police arrived at Salazar’s home a number of family members willingly left before the stand-off began. It remains to be seen whether any of them will face charges.
A number of weapons were also removed from Salazar’s home.
Clinkunbroomer was rushed to the Antelope Valley Medical Center after the shooting, but died there from his injuries.
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 pulling up to the deputy’s patrol vehicle at a red light just before the shooting.
The sheriff’s office had released screenshots of the suspicious vehicle and announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman.
“We’re gonna catch the person who did this,” Luna said before Salazar was detained. “Every resource that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has to bear is going after you.”
Clinkunbroomer was an eight-year veteran of the force and had been a field training officer for nearly two years.
Both his grandfather and father served in the sheriff’s office before him.
“He embodied the values of bravery, selflessness and an absolute commitment to justice,” Luna said. “Our deputy was a devoted family member and a cherished member of our community who was cowardly shot while working tirelessly to serve our community. Our hearts absolutely go out to his family.”
Some 1,000 people attended a vigil honoring the slain deputy outside the sheriff’s station in Palmdale on Sunday night.
