Slain Veteran And Rookie Officers Were 'Heroes Murdered By A Coward'

EL MONTE, CA — Two El Monte police officers killed while responding to a domestic disturbance at motel Tuesday evening left behind spouses and children, city officials said Wednesday. One was a 22-year veteran of the force, and the other had been on the job less than a year.

Neither slain officer has been publicly identified yet. Their bodies were transferred from County-USC Medical Center to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office on Tuesday night in a somber procession lined by police officers, firefighters and community members honoring the officers killed in the line of duty.

Their deaths stunned the community.

"Heartbroken doesn't begin to express the loss that we feel," El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona said during the news conference.

"They were acting as the first line of defense for community members when they were essentially ambushed while trying to keep the family safe," Ancona said.

The shooting occurred about 5:10 p.m. at the Siesta Inn, at 10327 Garvey Ave., near the San Bernardino (10) Freeway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which was assisting El Monte police with the investigation. The man who killed the police officers was also shot and killed.

Police recovered a firearm at the scene, said Deputy Brenda Serna of the sheriff's Information Bureau.

Sheriff's Lt. Andrew Meyer said the officers were responding to the motel regarding reports of a stabbing and came under fire when they attempted to make contact with the suspect inside a room. The suspect then ran from the motel into a parking lot, where a second shooting occurred.

Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that the suspect shot at the officers through a door when they approached.

A witness, Arthur Kingsbury, told reporters he heard shots coming from the motel.

"When I saw the officers start to duck and cover, I knew they had been shot," he said.

The officers were taken to County-USC Medical Center, where they later died of their injuries, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Serna. Witnesses said a body could be seen covered by a sheet at the shooting scene.

"These heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice," acting El Monte Police Department Chief Ben Lowry said at a Tuesday night news conference. "Today they were murdered by a coward."

El Monte Councilwoman Maria Morales posted on Facebook, "They went to work today to protect the people of our city and to answer the call for help. Sadly, their selfless acts of service led them to a place of evil and they were taken from us in a senseless act of cowardice.

"As a city official and, more importantly, as a mother, I can only imagine the pain and suffering their families are now enduring. I want them to know that I and the people of El Monte grieve with them during this dark moment."

The Los Angeles Times reported that 20 investigators were searching for surveillance video and interviewing witnesses on Tuesday night, including a woman who was inside the motel room when the officers arrived, citing information from Meyer.

The woman, who police say is the suspect's girlfriend, had not been stabbed, Meyer told The Times.

The city of El Monte, El Monte Police Department and El Monte Police Officers Association released a joint statement expressing their sympathy: "There are no words to describe our grief and devastation by this senseless act as we learned about the passing of two of our police officers. It weighs heavy on our hearts and we are sending our support to their families.

"We would also like to thank the El Monte community and our surrounding government agencies for the outpouring support we have received in the last few hours."

Condolences poured in from police and fire agencies.

"My deepest condolences and prayers go out to the @elmontepolice and the loved ones of the two officers who were senselessly murdered this evening in the line of duty," Sheriff Alex Villanueva tweeted.

A tweet from the Los Angeles County Fire Department reads, "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of two El Monte Police Dept officers. The LACoFD extends its condolences/prayers to everyone affected.

"Every day, we work side-by-side w/law enforcement, including our partners at El Monte Police Dept, who are like family to us."

Around 11:10 p.m., a police procession began from the El Monte Police Department to the hospital in order to escort the officers' bodies to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

The shooting came one day after a California Highway Patrol officer was shot multiple times during a traffic stop in Studio City.

Anyone with information about the shooting was encouraged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous calls can be made to 800- 222-TIPS.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.