Tragic Incident: California Patrol Car Shooting Claims Life of Sheriff’s Deputy

A deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department tragically lost his life on Saturday evening when an unidentified individual shot him while he was on duty in his patrol car, according to the AP. The deputy, identified as 30-year-old Ryan Clinkunbroomer, was transported to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Sheriff Robert Luna addressed the media late Saturday night, stating that the preliminary investigation indicated Clinkunbroomer was driving his patrol car when he was fired upon at around 6pm. Clinkunbroomer was found unconscious near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q in Palmdale by a “good Samaritan” who promptly alerted the Palmdale station of the sheriff’s department.

Homicide investigators are in possession of video footage from a surveillance camera that may have captured the shooting, Sheriff Luna revealed. He expressed his belief that the shooting was a targeted attack, although the motive and whether the deputy or the department as a whole was the intended target remain unknown. “We’re going to catch the person who did this,” Luna vowed. “Because every resource that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has to offer will be utilized to apprehend you.”

Clinkunbroomer, who had transferred to the Palmdale station in July 2018, came from a law enforcement family, with both his grandfather and father serving in the sheriff’s department, Luna shared. The sheriff emphasized that his department is closely collaborating with representatives from the city of Palmdale, located approximately 61 miles northeast of Los Angeles. “Palmdale loves the sheriff’s deputies, and the deputies reciprocate by taking excellent care of Palmdale and our community,” said Mayor Laura Bettencourt during the press conference. “The individual responsible for this cowardly act will be apprehended.”

(Read more Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stories.)