A man accused of ambushing a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, killing him with a shot to the head as he sat inside his patrol vehicle, was taken into custody early Monday, Sept. 18, after an hours long standoff at his home in Palmdale, Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Kevin Cataneo Salazar, 29, was arrested in the Palmdale neighborhood where he lived with his family, Luna said outside the city’s sheriff station.
Deputies surrounded the home early Monday morning, calling for anyone inside to come out. Luna said other family members left the home, but that Salazar refused.
He remained barricaded inside the home for several hours as the Sheriff’s SWAT-style team of heavily armed deputies attempted to convince him to come outside. Luna said a negotiator talked to Salazar, but eventually deputies fired tear gas into the home, forcing him to surrender.
Deputies found “numerous firearms” inside the home, Luna said.
Luna accused Salazar of being the driver who pulled up alongside Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, at around 6 p.m. Saturday after he stopped his patrol vehicle briefly just outside the Palmdale Sheriff Station. Luna said Salazar suddenly opened fire on Clinkunbroomer, hitting him in the head, then sped off.
Luna said Salazar was the only suspect. He said someone came forward to the department to identify him Sunday after Luna spoke to the media. Luna said investigators don’t know yet why Salazar is believed to have shot Clinkunbroomer, though he heavily implied the deputy was targeted because he was a member of law enforcement.
“He was in a marked black and white, right in front of this station,” Luna said.
Clinkunbroomer worked for the Sheriff’s Department for eight years, serving at the Palmdale station since July 2018.
A memorial has been established at the site of the shooting where people gather to leave flower and pay their respects to the slain sheriff. A candlelight vigil was held at 7 p.m. Sunday outside the Palmdale Sheriff’s station and Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the state Capitol to be flown at half-staff.
