Update: A suspect has been arrested in the ambush killing of a L.A County sheriff's deputy

Update 1:30 p.m. Monday: A 29-year-old man was arrested early Monday, 36 hours after the ambush killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who was shot as he sat in a patrol car, authorities said.

The suspect barricaded himself inside a home in the city of Palmdale for several hours, but later surrendered and weapons were recovered, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told a news conference.

Luna said authorities have not yet determined a motive for the killing of 30-year-old Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer on Saturday evening. He described the situation as “fluid” and said there could be more arrests but that he believes the suspect is the person who killed the deputy.

“I feel extremely confident that we have the right person in custody,” Luna said.

“Our deputy was in uniform in a marked black-and-white police vehicle right in front of the station,” Luna said. “Why did he do this? I have no idea. Was he targeted? I’m assuming he was but ... our intent is to find out.”

Hundreds attended a vigil outside the Palmdale sheriff's station Sunday for the third-generation law-enforcement officer who had got engaged just four days before he was shot and killed.

On Monday, Luna read a statement from Clinkunbroomer's family, saying he was dedicated, hardworking and proud to serve alongside his colleagues.

“Ryan made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so,” the statement 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.”

Clinkunbroomer had just left the sheriff’s station in Palmdale, a city of more than 167,000 residents in the high desert of northern Los Angeles County. A “good Samaritan” spotted him and alerted station personnel.

The department later released grainy surveillance video of a dark-colored sedan that pulled alongside the patrol car in the moments before the shooting.

Luna said community members came forward with information that led homicide investigators to identify the suspect and the vehicle.

Early Monday, a SWAT team from the department's Special Enforcement Bureau served a search warrant at the residence and called for all occupants to come out, the sheriff said.

Family members came out but the suspect barricaded himself inside, he said. Deputies used de-escalation techniques including negotiators before they “deployed chemical agents” and the suspect surrendered, Luna said. He did not identify the weapons that were seized.

The sheriff said he was proud “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.”

The sheriff said Clinkunbroomer had been assigned to the Palmdale station since July 2018, and that his father and grandfather had also served in the department.

“Deputy Sheriff Ryan Clinkunbroomer and his family are an integral part of the very essence of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and this heart-wrenching murder cuts to the very core of our being,” Richard Pippin, the president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the deputies’ union, said in a statement.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the killing “horrific, unconscionable and shocking.” He ordered flags at the state Capitol flown at half-staff in Clinkunbroomer's honor.

“In this time of mourning, we honor this legacy and send our deepest sympathies to Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s fiancée, his loved ones, and the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” Newsom said in a statement Sunday. “Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s devotion to community and country will never be forgotten.”

Deputy William Warner, who trained Clinkunbroomer, told the Los Angeles Times his determination to follow in his father‘s and grandfather’s footsteps was evident in his work ethic.

“He just wanted to do the best that he could do,” Warner said, “and do his small part to make a difference in the best way that he could.”

Original story 10 a.m. Monday: The shooting death of a Los Angeles County sheriff deputy has prompted county officials to issue a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those involved.

Meanwhile, investigators are asking the public for help in identifying a suspect and locating a "vehicle of interest."

Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, an eight-year veteran of the sheriff’s department, was killed in an ambush shooting outside of the Palmdale sheriff's station on Saturday, authorities reported.

"Our deputy never even had a chance,” said Sheriff Robert Luna during a press conference that day.

A vigil for Clinkunbroomer was held Sunday evening outside the Palmdale sheriff's station, located about 30 miles west of San Bernardino County, which borders the county of Los Angeles.

Reward

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger ($100,000), the City of Palmdale ($100,00) and the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs ($50,000) have each authorized awards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the deputy’s death, sheriff’s officials said.

Barger called Saturday’s killing of deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer an "unprovoked attack on an honorable public servant."

"Whoever committed this cowardly act will be caught. The person or persons responsible will be held accountable," she said.

Vehicle of interest

Sheriff’s deputies on Saturday circulated a video showing Clinkunbroomer’s patrol car at the time of the shooting.

Detectives are seeking a "vehicle of interest," described as a gray 2006-2012 Toyota Corolla.

Detectives are asking the public for help in locating the vehicle and are asking anyone with information to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

To provide information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or lacrimestoppers.org.

Additionally by using a smartphone and downloading the “P3Tips” Mobile APP on Google Play or the Apple App Store.

The shooting

Sheriff Luna stated that before the shooting, Clinkunbroomer had just left the station in his patrol vehicle.

He was in full uniform and was sitting at a red light at the intersection of Sierra Highway and E. Avenue Q before 6 p.m., when “a good samaritan” found the deputy slumped over the wheel, Luna said.

The unidentified good samaritan alerted authorities at the Palmdale station about the injured deputy, who was transported to Antelope Valley Medical Center with a gunshot wound, the sheriff said.

"Despite the medical staff's best efforts to save our deputy's life, regrettably he succumbed to his injuries," Luna said. “At this time, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide investigators are investigating the murder of our deputy.”

Sheriff Luna stopped reading his notes and asked for the public’s help in locating the suspect. He added “We need to get this guy off the street. Guy or guys.”

"I’m going to continuously refer to them as cowards because that’s what they are—cowards," Luna said. "To attack a deputy sheriff in uniform in a black and white, who’s just sitting there at a red light, about to go out and serve our community. That is absolutely 100% unacceptable."

Clinkunbroomer had just become engaged to his girlfriend four days ago, according to Luna, who indicated that the deputy left behind his fiancée, parents, and grandparents.

"He didn't deserve this," an emotional Luna said. "This is so unfair. We're hurting because we lost somebody. It hurts bad. It sucks, just to put it bluntly. Our hearts absolutely go out to his family."

Condolences

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials and the county district attorney’s office offered their condolences to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Clinkunbroomer’s family.

Republican state Sen. Scott Wilk, who represents the Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley, called the murder of Clinkunbroomer "senseless" and "maddening and heartbreaking."

On Sunday night, 34th District Assemblyman Tom Lackey, who serves San Bernardino, Kern and Los Angeles counties, said it was very emotional for him to speak at the candlelight vigil for the fallen Clinkunbroomer.

“The outpouring of love and support for his family and fellow officers was outstanding,” Lackey said. “Thousands of people from all over the Antelope Valley and beyond came to pay tribute to Deputy Clinkunbroomer's memory.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom called the killing "horrific, unconscionable, and shocking." He ordered flags at the state capitol flown at half-staff in honor of Clinkunbroomer.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Update: A suspect has been arrested in killing of a L.A County deputy