Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - A deputy shy of 20 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department survived a shooting while waiting at a red light Monday afternoon.
A suspect believed to be driving a white sedan with tinted windows shot the uniformed 43-year-old deputy who sat on an LA County Sheriff’s motorcycle while perched at a red light on South Barranca Street at East Garvey Avenue North. The deputy remains hospitalized in stable condition, according to Sheriff Robert Luna. The shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. Monday, April 22. The white sedan fled westbound on the I-10 freeway. “He was sitting on a marked black and white police motorcycle in full uniform and he was shot in the back,” according to Sheriff Luna in an evening press conference. An examination of the deputy’s vest shows that he was struck once. The bulletproof vest saved the deputy’s life, Sheriff Luna said. It is not yet clear if this was a crime of opportunity, or if the suspect followed the deputy and waited for a time to strike, Sheriff Luna said. A license plate was obtained regarding a vehicle possibly tied to the shooting. Within the hour or so after the incident, deputies and California Highway Patrol officers surrounded a house in La Puente where several people were detained. These persons of interest will be released, if they haven’t already been released, since investigators cannot link them to this crime, Sheriff Luna said. “Right now there is somebody out there armed with a firearm who shot one of our deputies in the back and if he’s willing to do that, he’s willing to shoot at anybody,” Sheriff Luna said. Anyone who witnessed this shooting, or who may have information leading to a suspect, or suspects, is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. |
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