BREAKING: Suspects Arrested in Deadly Ambush of Police Officer

Authorities said today they arrested two men and a 17- year-old boy for the killing of a Downey police officer, gunned down as he sat in plain clothes in his personal vehicle in the police station parking lot.

Investigators believe Officer Ricardo Galvez, 29, a five-year veteran of the department, was targeted by suspects apparently intent on robbing him, sheriff’s Lt. John Corina told reporters in a noon news conference at police headquarters.

One suspect was taken into custody following a police pursuit to Montebello that followed the shooting. The others were taken into custody during a followup investigation that included serving warrants, Corina said. The names of the suspects were not immediately released.

“They were out looking to rob somebody,” Corina said, explaining that the suspects did not appear to realize Galvez was an officer or that they were in the parking lot of the police station.

Authorities believe no other suspects were involved in the crime. A revolver believed used in the crime has been recovered, Corina said.

According to Downey police, Galvez was on duty and returning to the police station from a training program during which he acted as a K9 agitator.

At a news conference about 6:30 a.m., Downey police Chief Carl Charles had described the fatally wounded officer.

“This morning I stand before you with a heavy heart,” Charles said. “It is with great sadness that I report one of Downey’s finest was shot and killed.”

Galvez was fatally shot about 11 p.m. Wednesday in the west parking lot of the police station in the 11000 block of Brookshire Avenue. He died at the scene.

“Ricky ... was a tremendous young man, who loved serving the residents of Downey,” Charles said. “His smile was infectious, and his professionalism was always on display.”

Charles told reporters that the sheriff’s department would be handling the investigation.

Late this morning, the officer’s body was transported from the crime scene to the coroner’s facility, escorted by a procession of police vehicles.

“At 11 o’clock last night, Officer Galvez had pulled into the parking lot here (and) parked his car,” Corina said at the 6:30 a.m. news conference. “While he was sitting there, a couple of individuals ran up on his car, shot into his car, and struck him with gunfire.”

The suspects then got into a car and it sped off, Corina said.

“As luck would have it, a Downey police officer in his patrol vehicle heard the shooting, went in pursuit of the suspects, chased them into the city of Montebello, and that’s where they bailed out of the car,” Corina said.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video as part of their investigation, Corina said.

The suspects led officers to the general area of Carob Way near Washington Boulevard in Montebello.

The driver was taken into custody, and his arrest led detectives to obtain the warrants that resulted in the other two arrests, Corina said.

Corina said that, as one Downey police officer launched a pursuit of the vehicle believed to be carrying the killers, another Downey officer came outside and found the fatally wounded officer.

A SWAT team assisted in the investigation, and California Highway Patrol officers handled traffic control around the perimeter of the Montebello search area.

Downey police spokesman Lt. Mark McDaniel said Galvez is survived by his mother, his brother, and two sisters. Galvez served in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to becoming a police officer.

“Ricky was an outstanding person, (an) outstanding police officer,” McDaniel said. “If you could mold a police officer, you would mold that police officer after Ricky Galvez.”

Gov. Jerry Brown and other officials paid tribute to the slain officer.

“Anne and I were saddened to learn of the death of Officer Galvez and extend our condolences to his family, friends and the entire law enforcement community in this difficult time,” the governor said.

Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, expressed his condolences, saying, “This is a tremendous loss for his family, the Downey Police Department and the entire community.”

U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles, also expressed her “deepest sympathies,” adding that her prayers were with the officer’s “family, friends and co-workers in this difficult time.”

City News Service