Two Los Angeles Deputies Shot in Ambush
Two Los Angeles Deputies were shot in an ambush at a Metro station in Compton on Saturday.
The ambush took place around 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Metro Blue Line station at Willowbrook Avenue and Compton Boulevard, Los Angeles.
It happened just a short distance from the Compton sheriff's station.
A surveillance video of the suspect's ambush was released by the department. It showed the Los Angeles deputies as they sat in the patrol vehicle.
A man in dark clothing walked up to the deputies and shot several times at a close range, reported ABC7. The suspect then ran off on foot.
One of the victims was seen emerging from the passenger side and stumbling around on foot for a few seconds before the video ends.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva called the ambush a "cowardly act".
"The two deputies were doing their job, minding their own business, watching out for the safety of the people on the train," he said.
He added that there is "no pretty way to say" how negatively he felt to see someone walk up to the deputies and start shooting them. "It dismays me at the same time," he added.
The deputies were identified as a 31-year-old mother of a six-year-old boy, and the other a 24-year-old man. Both of their families came to the hospital after the shooting.
Villanueva said both deputies were only sworn into duty 14 months ago in the same class.
"Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers," the department said in a tweet.
Deputies Had Critical Injuries
As reported by The Hill, there were two victims, one male and one female.
They sustained "multiple gunshot wounds and are in critical condition." The County Sheriff's department tweeted late Saturday that they were "still fighting for their lives."
Both of them had to go through surgery at a local hospital. Later on, the department confirmed that the victims have been out of surgery.
Officials told Los Angeles Times that at least one of the deputies was shot in the face and the other in the head.
Shooter Still at Large
Officials did not get a detailed description of the shooter, other than he was a man, NBC Los Angeles reported. Sheriff's Capt. Kent Wegener said investigators were combing the area for videos that might show more information on the suspect.
Streets in the area were blocked off by deputies in search of the suspect.
The department had at least 14 detectives on the scene of the crime to investigate. There were also forensic specialists, the Special Enforcement Bureau, K-9 units and other department personnel on scene.
President Donald Trump also reacted to the shooting. He retweeted the video of the crime and commented: "Animals that must be hit hard!"
A small crowd was gathered near the hospital in Lynwood where the deputies were brought for treatment.
Witnesses said members in the group were chanting anti-law enforcement slogans. At one point, some of them also tried to get inside the hospital.
Anyone with information on the shooter can call detectives at 323-890-5500.
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