'Coward' who ambushed Los Angeles deputy has been caught, sheriff says: Updates

John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read
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Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday he's "extremely confident'' his department has caught the man who shot and killed a sheriff's deputy over the weekend, launching an intense manhunt that concluded after only 36 hours.

At a morning news conference, Luna identifed the suspect as Kevin Cataneo Salazar, 29, of Palmdale, a suburb 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles where deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was shot Saturday in his cruiser at a traffic light shortly after leaving the station.

No motive has been determined for the attack, according to Luna, who said community tips led authorities to Salazar's home, where he was arrested early Monday after he barricaded himself for "several hours.'' He finally surrendered after deputies forced him out of the home with a chemical agent.

“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 said. "He never gave our deputy a chance.’’

Luna said law enforcement agents recovered "numerous'' firearms at the suspect's home, along with the vehicle believed to be used in the killing. Video released by the sheriff's department shows a sedan pulling over to the driver's side of Clinkunbroomer's marked patrol car Saturday afternon, pausing briefly and then speeding away. Clinkunbroomer's vehicle barely moved after that.

The Los Angeles Times reported Clinkunbroomer, 30, was shot in the head. The newspaper also spoke with the suspect's mother, Marle Salazar, who said he has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and has twice attempted suicide.

Clinkunbroomer came from a law enforcement family, and they released a statement read by Luna that said 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.”

Luna said he didn't know why Clinkunbroomer was "ambushed by a coward.'' The sheriff became emotional when noting that deputies' families regularly pray for their safe return from work, "and in this case, Ryan's family will never see him again.''

Developments:

◾A $250,000 reward was offered for information leading to the capture of anyone responsible in the slaying. Luna said community members were "outraged'' about the killing and came through with information that helped lead to the suspect's capture.

◾Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the Capitol flown at half staff, and a makeshift memorial of flowers and other items grew quickly near the sight of the shooting.

$250K reward offered: Investigators search for assailant who fatally shot Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy

Miguel Ruiz, center, and his wife, Sara, seated, attend a vigil in Palmdale, Calif., for Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Palmdale Sheriff's Station on Sept. 17, 2023.
Miguel Ruiz, center, and his wife, Sara, seated, attend a vigil in Palmdale, Calif., for Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Palmdale Sheriff's Station on Sept. 17, 2023.

Details on shooting emerge

Preliminary details indicate that Clinkunbroomer was in uniform and on duty at about 6 p.m. when he stopped his police cruiser at a red light and was shot. A passerby found Clinkunbroomer unconscious in his vehicle a short time later, and fellow deputies raced him to a nearby hospital where he died.

“Without warning, he was murdered while serving our community,” Luna said at a briefing Sunday. “Please, I beg you. Somebody has information. Make things right.”

Who was Ryan Clinkunbroomer?

Clinkunbroomer was a third-generation member of the department, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He was an eight-year veteran of the force who had worked out of Palmdale for the past five years. About 18 months ago he became a training officer, Luna said. Clinkunbroomer had proposed to his fiancée days before the shooting, Luna said.

“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. “Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s devotion to community and country will never be forgotten.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspect in killing of Los Angeles sheriff's deputy caught: Updates