‘Person of interest’ detained in ambush-style slaying of LA County sheriff’s deputy

A man accused of ambushing a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and fatally shooting him in the head as he sat inside his patrol vehicle was apprehended early Monday, Sept. 18, after an hours-long standoff at his Palmdale home, according to Sheriff Robert Luna.

Luna said outside the city’s sheriff station that Kevin Cataneo Salazar, 29, was arrested in the Palmdale neighborhood where he lived with his family.

Deputies surrounded the house early Monday morning, requesting that anyone inside come out. Luna claimed that other family members left the house, but Salazar refused.

He remained inside the house for several hours as the Sheriff’s SWAT team of heavily armed deputies tried to persuade him to come outside. Luna stated that a negotiator spoke with Salazar, but deputies eventually fired tear gas into his home, forcing him to surrender.

Deputies discovered “numerous firearms” inside the house, according to Luna.

Luna accused Salazar of being the driver who pulled up alongside Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, after he briefly stopped his patrol vehicle outside the Palmdale Sheriff Station around 6 p.m. Saturday. Salazar, according to Luna, opened fire on Clinkunbroomer, hitting him in the head, before fleeing.

Salazar, according to Luna, was the only suspect. After Luna spoke to the media on Sunday, he said, someone came forward to the department to identify him. Luna said investigators don’t know why Salazar is suspected of shooting Clinkunbroomer, but he strongly implied the deputy was targeted because he was a law enforcement officer.

“He was in a clearly marked black and white, right in front of this station,” Luna explained.

Clinkunbroomer has been with the Sheriff’s Department for eight years, and has been assigned to the Palmdale station since July 2018.

At the scene of the shooting, a memorial has been set up where people can leave flowers and pay their respects to the slain sheriff. A candlelight vigil was held outside the Palmdale Sheriff’s station at 7 p.m. Sunday, and Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the state Capitol to be flown at half-staff.