PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Authorities asked for the public's help and offered a $250,000 reward as investigators searched Sunday for the assailant who shot and killed a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy as he sat in his patrol car at an intersection.
Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, died at a hospital after being found unconscious in the vehicle while on duty around 6 p.m. Saturday in the city of Palmdale, Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Luna said he believed the shooting was a 鈥渢argeted attack.鈥� But the motive, and whether Clinkunbroomer or the department in general was the target, was not yet known.
鈥淲ithout warning, he was murdered while serving our community,鈥� an emotional Luna said at a Sunday news conference during which he urged any potential witnesses to contact detectives. 鈥淧lease, I beg you. Somebody has information. Make things right.鈥�
The department released grainy surveillance video of a dark-colored sedan that pulled alongside the patrol car in the moments before the shooting. Luna said investigators believe the 鈥渧ehicle of interest鈥� is a gray Toyota Corolla manufactured between 2006 and 2012.
Clinkunbroomer was found near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q in Palmdale by a person Luna identified as a 鈥済ood Samaritan鈥� who alerted personnel at the city's sheriff's station.
The deputy was taken to Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, where he was treated for a gunshot wound and eventually died.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to catch the person who did this," Luna said Saturday night. "Because every resource that the Los Angeles County Sheriff鈥檚 Department has to bear is going after you.鈥�
California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the killing 鈥渉orrific, unconscionable, and shocking.鈥� He ordered flags at the state capitol flown at half-staff in honor of Clinkunbroomer.
Clinkunbroomer, who transferred to the Palmdale station in July 2018, was a third-generation officer who followed his grandfather and father into the sheriff鈥檚 department, Luna said.
鈥淚n this time of mourning, we honor this legacy and send our deepest sympathies to Deputy Clinkunbroomer鈥檚 fianc茅e, his loved ones, and the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff鈥檚 Department," Newsom said in a statement Sunday. 鈥淒eputy Clinkunbroomer鈥檚 devotion to community and country will never be forgotten.鈥�
The sheriff said his department was working closely with representatives from the city of Palmdale, about 61 miles (98 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles.
鈥淧almdale loves the sheriff鈥檚 deputies, and the deputies take very good care of Palmdale and love our community back," Mayor Laura Bettencourt said at the news conference. 鈥淭he person that did this is a coward. and they will be caught.鈥�
鈥淚t is sickening, heartbreaking news,鈥� Republican state Sen. Scott Wilk, who represents Palmdale, posted Saturday evening on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
A vigil for Clinkunbroomer was scheduled for Sunday evening outside the Palmdale sheriff's station.
The Associated Press
