Two Los Angeles police officers are recovering in hospital after being shot in what police are calling an ambush.
Video of the incident shows a figure approach the officers’ vehicle, before opening fire and running away. Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva called the act « cowardly ». The suspect remains at large.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has announced a $100,000 (£78,000) reward for any information leading to the gunman’s arrest.
Almost 40 US police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2020, FBI statistics show – eight of them were victims of an ambush.
Protesters shouted anti-police slogans and blocked the entrance to the emergency room where the two officers were being treated, police and witnesses said.
Two people were arrested, including a journalist who police said tried to interfere with the arrest of the other detainee and did not identify herself as a member of the press. The reporter, Josie Huang, tweeted she had « thoughts and videos » to share, while her employer, NPR, said they were « appalled » by her arrest.
The officers involved in the shooting have not been named but were described as a 31-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man. The female officer was shot in the jaw and arms and was in a critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery, authorities said on Sunday. The male officer was hit in the forehead, an arm and a hand and was described as alert, ABC News reported. « This is just a sombre reminder that this is a dangerous job. Actions, words have consequences and our job does not get easier because people don’t like law enforcement, » Sheriff Villanueva said.
Both candidates in this year’s presidential election weighed in on the shooting. Sharing the footage of the incident, US President Donald Trump, tweeted: « Animals that must be hit hard. » His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, said he was praying the officers recover. « This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice, » he tweeted. « Violence of any kind is wrong; those who commit it should be caught and punished. »