Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy dies after being shot in his patrol car by an unknown assailant

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A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy tragically lost his life after being shot while on duty in his patrol car on Saturday evening by an unidentified assailant. A comprehensive investigation is now underway, with Sheriff Robert Luna pledging the full mobilization of the department’s resources.

The fallen officer, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, aged 30, succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to the hospital, as Sheriff Luna conveyed during a late-night press conference on Saturday. According to preliminary findings, the incident occurred while Deputy Clinkunbroomer was actively patrolling and transpired around 6 p.m.

Deputy Clinkunbroomer was discovered unconscious in his patrol car near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q in Palmdale, thanks to the vigilance of an individual described by Sheriff Luna as a “good Samaritan.” This concerned citizen promptly alerted authorities at the Palmdale station of the sheriff’s department, initiating immediate response efforts.

The injured deputy was swiftly transported to Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, where medical personnel made every effort to save his life. Unfortunately, Deputy Clinkunbroomer succumbed to his gunshot wound, as sorrowfully reported by Sheriff Luna.

In the ongoing investigation, homicide detectives are in possession of surveillance footage that may have captured the shooting incident. While Sheriff Luna believes that this was a “targeted attack,” the precise motive remains unclear. It remains uncertain whether the assailant’s target was the deputy himself or the department as a whole.

Sheriff Luna asserted, “We’re going to catch the person who did this,” emphasizing the unwavering commitment of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to pursue justice relentlessly.

Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, who joined the Palmdale station in July 2018, continued a noble family legacy, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father in serving with the sheriff’s department, as highlighted by Sheriff Luna.

In this challenging time, the sheriff’s department is collaborating closely with representatives from the city of Palmdale, located approximately 61 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Mayor Laura Bettencourt expressed the community’s deep appreciation for the sheriff’s deputies and their reciprocal commitment to Palmdale.

“This individual’s actions are cowardly,” Mayor Bettencourt remarked at the press conference. “They will be apprehended.”

State Senator Scott Wilk, representing Palmdale, expressed his profound sorrow on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, earlier in the evening, describing the news as sickening and heartbreaking.

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More about Deputy Shooting Investigation

• Los Angeles Times Article on Deputy Shooting
• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Official Website
• City of Palmdale Official Website
• State Senator Scott Wilk’s Twitter