Two El Monte police officers were struck and fatally injured in a shooting with a suspect or suspects in El Monte early Tuesday evening.
The two officers had been called to the intersection of Garvey and Central avenues, where the shooting happened just after 5 p.m., according to Deputy David Yoo, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department was assisting El Monte Police with the investigation.
The city of El Monte confirmed both officers had died in a Tuesday night statement.
The suspect was “down” at the scene, Yoo said.
I’m in El Monte where a shooting broke out earlier, injuring two officers and the suspect. pic.twitter.com/CDdBMubQeP
— Quinn Wilson (@qrwriter) June 15, 2022
A body covered by a sheet could be seen at the scene; and broadcast reports said that was the suspect who had been killed.
Police and sheriff’s deputies swarmed the area of the shooting and appeared to be searching a nearby building, possibly a motel. Another suspect also appeared to be in custody in a patrol vehicle on the scene.
“The El Monte Police Department responded to a possible stabbing at the Siesta Inn and officers immediately took gunfire upon arrival,” the city statement said.
TV helicopter coverage showed family members of the injured officers were at LAC+USC Medical Center, where the officers were taken after the shooting.
Alex Garcia, a 20 year resident of South El Monte, said he saw what he thought was the end of a pursuit before the shooting broke out. He said incidents of this magnitude are not common for the community.
“It doesn’t get like this, with people getting shot and shooting at the cops,” Garcia said. “The community’s changed a lot (since I’ve lived here); it’s gotten a lot chiller.”
“I’m completely devastated to learn about the shooting of two of El Monte’s Police officers. Details are still being investigated and reported. During my tenure as mayor, I had the opportunity to get to know many of them. I broke bread with them, celebrated their heroic feats and watched as many safely made it to their end of watch. Please keep these officers in your prayers,” said former El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero, who served from 2009 to 2020.
The shooting comes one day after a California Highway Patrol officer was shot multiple times during a traffic stop in Studio City. The CHP officer remained hospitalized Tuesday and a suspect was in custody.
City News Service contributed to this story.
