..... The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. when a good Samaritan discovered Deputy Clinkunbroomer slumped over the wheel of his patrol vehicle at the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q. Immediately, the deputy was rushed to Antelope Valley Medical Center, where he fought for his life but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

The news of Deputy Clinkunbroomer's untimely death sent shockwaves through the community. Sheriff Robert Luna expressed his grief during a press conference, stating, "We're hurting because we lost somebody. ..... Deputy Clinkunbroomer, only 30 years old, had just become engaged to his girlfriend four days prior to the incident. ..... 

As the investigation into the shooting intensifies, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed on Monday that an unidentified person of interest in the homicide case has been detained. The department has scheduled a news conference for further updates on the investigation. ..... 

During the press conference, Sheriff Luna shared that investigators are analyzing a video that captured the moments leading up to the shooting. The footage reveals a dark gray 2006-2012 Toyota Corolla slowly pulling up behind Deputy Clinkunbroomer's LASD vehicle before speeding away. The Sheriff urged the public to come forward with any information that could help identify and locate the shooter, emphasizing the urgency of removing this dangerous individual from the streets.

Deputy Clinkunbroomer's dedication to public service was evident throughout his career. ..... As a field training officer for nearly two years, he was considered one of the best in his field. ..... 

The devastating loss of Deputy Clinkunbroomer has prompted an outpouring of support from the community and beyond. ..... 

Despite the grief and pain felt by the law enforcement community, they remain determined to find justice for Deputy Clinkunbroomer. A candlelight vigil was held outside the Palmdale sheriff's station to honor his memory, bringing together hundreds of law enforcement officers and community members. The emotional event served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve and protect.

Sheriff Luna assured the public that updates on the investigation would be shared as new information emerges. ..... The search for answers continues as the community mourns the loss of an exceptional law enforcement officer, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer.

A 29-year-old man was arrested early Monday morning in the ambush-style killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy over the weekend, the authorities announced hours after engaging in a standoff at a Southern California home.

The deputy, Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, who was on duty and in uniform, was shot on Saturday night when his vehicle was stopped at a red light, shortly after leaving a police station in Palmdale, a city north of Los Angeles. The killing was captured on surveillance video and led to a major manhunt over the weekend.

Acting on tips from community members, sheriff's deputies arrested a man they identified as Kevin Cataneo Salazar on suspicion of killing Deputy Clinkunbroomer, according to Robert Luna, the sheriff of Los Angeles County.

Sheriff Luna said at a news conference on Monday that after members of the suspect's family came out of a home in Palmdale, the suspect barricaded himself in for several hours. Officers tried to use hostage negotiators to no avail, and then deployed chemical agents to draw Mr. Cataneo Salazar outside.

"He never gave our deputy a chance, but yet our men and women gave this individual a chance to take him into custody peacefully," Sheriff Luna said at the news conference.

After the shooting, officials described a "vehicle of interest" as a dark gray Toyota Corolla made between 2006 and 2012, and they announced a $250,000 award for information leading to a suspect's arrest and prosecution. Sheriff Luna said on Monday that media reports, which circulated photos and a description of the vehicle, were helpful in eliciting the tips that led to the arrest.

The vehicle in question, as well as several firearms, were taken by investigators at the house, Sheriff Luna said.

Deputy Clinkunbroomer, who was transferred to the Palmdale station in July 2018, had worked in the sheriff's department for about eight years, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, officials said. For the past year and a half, he also trained and supervised other deputies. ..... 

"Our deputy was a devoted family member and a cherished community member," Sheriff Luna said in a statement Sunday.

Deputy Clinkunbroomer had gotten engaged only four days earlier, he added.

According to statistics released by the F.B.I. concerning officers killed in the line of duty, five officers have died in 2023 through August in situations designated as "ambushes." Twelve officers were killed on the job in such situations in all of last year; eight were killed in 2021 and nine in 2020.

Palmdale has a recent history of tension between law enforcement officers and the community. In 2015, the U.S. Justice Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced a settlement involving a set of police reforms in Palmdale and the nearby city of Lancaster after an investigation found patterns of excessive use of force, biased policing practices and unlawful searches and seizures.

Monitors overseeing the settlement in Palmdale and Lancaster have documented a lack of progress in the past two years toward the goals set in the settlement, including a resistance to change and denial of responsibility. Their report this year cited several areas in need of improvement, including daily interactions with the public, but it also recognized "new signs of commitment to reforms" and better communication and transparency.

Los Angeles authorities have detained a person of interest in connection with the murder of a county sheriff's deputy who was ambushed and fatally shot at a traffic light on Saturday, the sheriff's office said on Monday.

A reward of $250,000 was offered on Sunday for any information regarding the shooting of Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, as he sat in his patrol car at a red light just outside a sheriff's station in the city of Palmdale, about 55 miles (90 km) northeast of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles County sheriff's office on Monday said a person of interest had been detained but provided no details.

The sheriff's office said it would hold its next news conference on the matter at 10:30 am PST on Monday.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna at a news conference on Sunday said Clinkunbroomer had been targeted because he was a law enforcement officer.

"Without warning, he was murdered while serving our community," Luna said.

A passerby found Clinkunbroomer at the wheel of his patrol cruiser gravely wounded about 6 p.m. on Saturday and called for help, police said. Clinkunbroomer, who served for eight years on the force, died at the hospital.

Clinkunbroomer, who had just gotten engaged to be married, was a third-generation member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, the sheriff said.

"Service was running through his veins," the sheriff said in a post on Instagram.

Local, state and federal officials had offered assistance in locating the shooter, Luna said.

This year 83 ambush-style attacks have targeted police in the United States, resulting in 15 officers killed by gunfire, according to the National Fraternal Order of Police.

 ..... 

Circumstances leading up to the shooting remain unclear, but LASD said the incident occurred efore 6 p.m., when the deputy was found slumped over the wheel of his patrol vehicle.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna identified the victim as Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, who was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to injuries sustained in the shooting. ..... He had been acting as a field training officer for nearly two years and was a third generation LASD member, behind his father and grandfather.

 ..... 

The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com.

Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was tragically shot and killed over the weekend in an ambush-style attack. On Monday, authorities announced that a suspect, identified as 29-year-old Kevin Salazar, had been arrested in connection with the shooting. The arrest came after community members provided information that led homicide detectives to identify the suspect and the vehicle used in the crime. Acting on this information, the sheriff's department's Special Enforcement Bureau tactical team went to a home in Palmdale where the suspect was believed to be hiding. While family members came out of the residence, Salazar barricaded himself inside for several hours. Law enforcement officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and peacefully coax the suspect out, but eventually deployed chemical agents, leading Salazar to surrender. Sheriff Robert Luna expressed his pride in the department's handling of the situation, noting that they gave the suspect every opportunity to surrender peacefully, unlike the way Clinkunbroomer was afforded no chance by the suspect. Salazar was taken into custody, and authorities recovered the vehicle and multiple firearms at the scene.

The arrest and subsequent recovery of evidence came after a reward of $250,000 was announced for information leading to an arrest in the case. Images of a vehicle believed to be involved in the attack, a dark gray Toyota Corolla made between 2006 and 2012, were released to the public. The vehicle was later found, along with the aforementioned firearms. However, authorities stress that the investigation is still ongoing, and they encourage anyone with additional information to come forward to assist in the prosecution of Salazar.

During a news conference, Sheriff Luna became emotional as he described the attack on Deputy Clinkunbroomer. He highlighted the sacrifices that law enforcement officers and their families make daily, with the hope of returning home safely. Luna also read a statement from Clinkunbroomer's family, who described him as a dedicated and hardworking deputy who was proud to serve the Palmdale community. Clinkunbroomer's family requested privacy during this time of mourning.

Surveillance video captured the moments before the shooting, showing a black car pulling up to the left of Clinkunbroomer's patrol vehicle at a red light. While the video does not show the actual shots being fired, it does show the black vehicle driving away as the patrol car comes to a stop. A citizen discovered Deputy Clinkunbroomer slumped over in his cruiser and alerted other deputies inside the Palmdale Sheriff's Station. Clinkunbroomer was initially taken to the hospital in his cruiser but was transferred to an ambulance en route. Another deputy took the cruiser to a medical center in Lancaster.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. Clinkunbroomer, an eight-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was described as an exemplary officer who served the Palmdale and Antelope Valley communities with distinction. His father and grandfather had also worked for the sheriff's department, making him part of three generations of law enforcement officers.

This tragic incident has brought attention to the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and the community in Palmdale. In 2015, a settlement involving police reforms was announced in Palmdale and the nearby city of Lancaster following an investigation that uncovered patterns of excessive force and biased policing practices. Monitors overseeing the settlement have noted a lack of progress in recent years, but have also recognized signs of commitment to reforms.

Clinkunbroomer was shot over the weekend in his patrol vehicle.

Sources told Fox News that a suspect - identified by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna as 29-year-old Kevin Salazar - was located following a tip. Clinkunbroomer was shot on Saturday, Sept. 16, while he was in his patrol vehicle at an intersection in Palmdale and later "succumbed to his injuries," authorities said.

"Community members came forward with information which led homicide detectives to identify the suspect and the vehicle used in the murder of Deputy Clinkunbroomer early this morning," Luna said Monday afternoon.

The sheriff's department's Special Enforcement Bureau tactical team then went to a home in Palmdale and "during that operation, deputies surrounded the residence and called out all the occupants of that residence," Luna continued.

"Eventually, family members did come out. The suspect chose to barricade himself and refused to initially come out. He barricaded himself for several hours," Luna added, noting that de-escalation techniques were used in an attempt to coax Salazar out of the property.

"Eventually, they deployed chemical agents and the suspect ultimately surrendered," he said.

"And I want to take a pause here for a second when I talk about how proud I am of this department after a significant tragedy that we've shared with all of you, because those special enforcement deputies took the time to try to de-escalate this and take this individual peacefully into custody when they knew that our deputy was not afforded the same opportunity," Luna also said. ..... 

Police last night announced a reward of $250,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Investigators had also released images of a vehicle - possibly a Toyota Corolla between the model years of 2006 to 2012 - sought in connection to the fatal attack. That vehicle later was found in addition to "numerous firearms," Luna said Monday, stressing that the case is still under investigation.

"I do want to stress to our community that although we are extremely confident that we have the right person in custody, I am still asking people to come forward and give us any piece of information that they believe that they have. Why? Because the arrest is only one part of this. We have to get this individual prosecuted now. To the full extent of the law," Luna said. "And we need the public's continued help and support in doing that."

Luna also choked up at one point during a news conference Monday while describing the attack on Clinkunbroomer.

"Our officers, our deputies go out and serve this community every day, putting their lives on the line. So we have a lot to be thankful for that we have men and women who volunteered to do this and families who kiss them goodbye and just pray that they come back home," Luna said. "And in this case, Ryan's family will never see him again."

Luna also read out a statement from Clinkunbroomer's family, also describing the officer as being among "three generations" of law enforcement. The deputy's father and grandfather also worked for the sheriff's department.

"Our son Ryan was a dedicated, hardworking deputy sheriff who enjoyed working here at the Palmdale station. He was proud to work along the side of his partners that he considered brothers and sisters as he sacrificed daily to better the community that he served. Ryan made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so," Luna said. "Ryan was recently engaged to the love of his life. As our firstborn son, Ryan will be greatly missed by his family, friends and the sheriff's department as a whole. Please keep Ryan's family, friends and colleagues in your prayers and respect everyone's privacy during our time of mourning."

Surveillance video that homicide investigators were aware of appeared to show the moments before Clinkunbroomer was shot in the back of the head and killed.

The video, obtained by FOX 11 Los Angeles, shows a black car pulling up to the left of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's cruiser at a red light. It is not possible to see any shots fired, but the black vehicle drives away as the sheriff's cruiser slowly rolls forward and then comes to a stop.

 ..... 

Clinkunbroomer was initially taken to the hospital in his cruiser, but an ambulance caught up with them on the way, according to FOX 11.

Clinkunbroomer was then put in an ambulance, and another deputy took his cruiser to a medical center in Lancaster.

The motive for the shooting is unclear.

Clinkunbroomer was an eight-year veteran of LASD who served the Palmdale and Antelope Valley communities with "absolute distinction," Luna said.

Fox News Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Bill Melugin, Landon Mion and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

A "person of interest" in the fatal shooting of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy was taken into custody, authorities said Monday.

Sheriff Robert Luna was scheduled to meet with reporters at 10:30 a.m. PDT (1:30 p.m. ET) to reveal more details of a possible break in the case of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer's slaying on Saturday.

A bystander called 911 after spotting the 30-year-old deputy unconscious in his car at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Southern California suburb of Palmdale, officials said.

Clinkunbroomer was rushed to the hospital but could not be revived.

Investigators said Sunday they were looking for a car - a dark-colored 2006 to 2012 Toyota Corolla - that was seen near Clinkunbroomer's vehicle just before the shooting.

Clinkunbroomer had just left the station when he was discovered near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q, which is about 60 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, officials said.

Law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation said Sunday that a video clip that shows a car pulling alongside the patrol car before it speeds away is a focus in the investigation.

Clinkunbroomer was a well regarded deputy and had been working as a field training officer for the past 1 1/2 years, officials said.

The victim, a third-generation deputy, got engaged to his girlfriend four days before the fatal attack, Luna said.

Ryan Clinkunbroomer, a 30-year-old field training officer, was shot and killed Saturday in the city of Palmdale.

Luna identified the suspect in the death of Ryan Clinkunbroomer, a 30-year-old field training officer, as Kevin Cataneo Salazar, who was taken into custody Monday morning after barricading himself in a home for several hours. Clinkunbroomer was shot Saturday just outside the Palmdale Sheriff's Station, northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The case will be reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which will decide what charges, if any, will be filed against the 29-year-old Salazar.

"I have personally spoken to the district attorney this morning and he assures me that they will aggressively pursue this case," Luna told reporters in Palmdale during a Monday news conference.

Gascon was not present during Monday's news conference.

"I've been in personal contact with Sheriff Luna regarding this investigation and made a commitment to him that my office will aggressively prosecute the suspected killer for this cowardly and senseless attack," Gascon said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Deputy district attorneys from the Crimes Against Peace Officers Division rolled out the night that this horrendous crime occurred and are in frequent communication with LASD detectives. My office will keep the community updated on developments as we work on this case with our law enforcement partners."

Since taking office in 2020, Gascon has been heavily criticized by law enforcement, elected officials and his own prosecutors over his progressive policies they see as being soft on crime and contributors to the region's crime woes. Despite the pushback, Gascon has survived two recall attempts but faces challenges in his upcoming re-election bid from three of his own deputy district attorneys.

"When George Gasc??n came into office, he ordered all prosecutors to remove special circumstances on all current cases. That included murdering a police officer on duty. Gasc??n also ordered all prosecutors to remove the gun use allegations on all cases," Los Angeles County prosecutor, Jonathan Hatami, one of Gascon's challengers, said in a statement Monday. "There were no exceptions. These blanket directives applied to all current cases and all new cases.

"When we have the evidence, in cases of murder that are so heinous it shocks the community conscience, we should file those cases to the fullest extent of the law. Justice demands it. We all need to demand that Gasc??n do his job," added Hatami.

John McKinney, also a current prosecutor in Los Angeles County, told Fox News Digital in a statement that it was "paramount that the District Attorney's Office assists in the investigation as needed and ultimately pursues justice with the utmost diligence."

"My thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer's loved ones, especially his family and fiance," McKinney said. "I also pray for his fellow deputies and all the guardians who wear the uniform during this heart-wrenching time."

Richard Pippin, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS), said it's now up to Gascon to decide to move the case forward.

"We expect that he'll do what he said he assured Sheriff Luna what he would do and make sure that this does not happen to another family," he said Monday.

Clinkunbroomer was found unconscious with a gunshot wound in his patrol vehicle outside the Sheriff's Palmdale station. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Luna described the killing as a targeted ambush.

He said investigators have not determined a motive for the killing. He added that he was confident the sole suspect responsible was arrested.

During the search for the killer, investigators released images of a vehicle sought in connection to the fatal attack. That vehicle later was found in addition to "numerous firearms," Luna said.

"We believe we have the murderer of our deputy in custody," he said. "He was just driving down the street. And for no apparent reason - and we're still looking into the specific reasons - somebody decided to shoot and murder him, I'm assuming at this point, because he was in uniform. That, to me, is sickening."

 ..... His family described him as a hardworking deputy who was “dedicated” to his job.

"He was proud to work alongside his partners that he considered brothers and sisters, and he sacrificed daily. ..... 

A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was killed when he was ambushed and shot in the head while sitting in his patrol car Saturday - four days after he had become engaged, police said.

Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, was discovered unconscious outside the Palmdale sheriff's station at approximately 6 p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a press conference late Saturday.

Clinkunbroomer was rushed nearly 10 miles away to Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, where he was listed in critical condition before he succumbed to his injury.

"I'm assuming at this point because he was in uniform. ..... 

The gunman remains at large as of Sunday morning.

The senseless slaying comes about four days after Clinkunbroomer had just become engaged to his girlfriend, the sheriff revealed.

"We're gonna catch the person who did this," Luna said. ..... 

Law enforcement was seen blocking off a large area outside the station, located about 60 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, with crime tape as they began their investigation into the unprovoked killing of the deputy.

Dramatic video recorded by a bystander showed multiple patrol cars rushing the deputy to the hospital.

Palmdale Ca:Deputy Down(750 E Avenue Q At the Palmdale Sheriffs station)Deputy down at station.LASD units doing critical roll to AVMC.Deputy at hospital requesting 4 additional units to hospital & 2 Lancaster units to Palmdale Sheriffs pic.twitter.com/6DYW2LOnji

Investigators are analyzing a video that shows a car slowly pulling up behind an LASD car around the time the shooting occurred, Luna said.

Security video reviewed by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin allegedly showed a black car pulling up alongside the deputy as he was in his squad car stopped at a red light near the station.

Moments later, the black car peels off as the deputy's patrol car slowly creeps forward before coming to a stop, Melugin shared.

Luna paused from reading his notes during the press conference to stress to the public for help identifying the suspect who pulled off the cold-blooded killing.

 ..... Guy or guys," Luna stressed. "He's a public safety threat. ..... 

He was a third-generation LASD member, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

"Just about everybody worked with his father," Luna said of senior members in the LASD. ..... It always hurts."

"They try to prepare you for this and no matter how much they do, it hurts bad."

Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroome shot as he sat in his patrol car at a red light on Saturday.

The department did not provide additional information about the person, but said officials would hold a news conference later Monday. Officials detained the person after a description of a vehicle was released and law enforcement received a tip, the Los Angeles Times reported.