PALMDALE, California- A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot in an ambush while he was still on duty in his patrol car. The deputy, identified as 30-year-old Ryan Clinkunbroomer, had recently become engaged just four days prior to the incident.
Clinkunbroomer was found unconscious near the Palmdale sheriff’s station around 6 p.m. on Saturday. He was quickly transported to Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, nearly 10 miles away, where he was listed in critical condition. Despite the efforts of the medical team, Clinkunbroomer succumbed to his injuries.
Sheriff Robert Luna, visibly shaken during a late-night press conference, expressed his disgust at the unprovoked attack, attributing it to Clinkunbroomer’s uniform. The assailant remains at large, prompting Luna to assure the public that every resource available to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is being utilized to apprehend the perpetrator.
The area around the station, located about 60 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, was cordoned off as investigators began their probe into the deputy’s murder. A bystander recorded a video, and the footage showed a flurry of patrol cars rushing Clinkunbroomer to the hospital.
Investigators are currently examining a security video that shows a car slowly approaching an LASD vehicle around the time of the shooting. The security footage allegedly shows a black car pulling up next to the deputy’s patrol car, which was stopped at a red light near the station. Moments later, the black car speeds away as the deputy’s car slowly moves forward before coming to a halt.
Sheriff Luna appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the suspect, emphasizing the urgency of removing the threat from the streets.
Clinkunbroomer, a third-generation LASD member, had served with the department for about eight years and had been a field training officer for nearly two years. His transfer to the Palmdale station occurred in July 2018. Luna spoke of the deep loss felt within the department, particularly among senior members who had worked with Clinkunbroomer’s father.