A Pomona SWAT officer was shot and critically wounded during a joint law enforcement operation in San Gabriel early Tuesday related to an investigation into outlaw motorcycle gangs, police said.
The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. at a residence in the 100 block of San Marino Avenue, according to a news release from the Pomona Police Department.
Officer Shaun Diamond was the first one through the door when SWAT made entry into the location and was immediately hit by a shotgun blast, according to Lt. Eddie Hernandez with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, which was assisting with the investigation.
Diamond was struck above his bullet-proof vest, possibly in the back of the head, according to Chief Paul J. Capraro of the Pomona Police Department.
The 46-year-old officer was wearing a Kevlar helmet, Capraro said.
Investigators said the shot may have been a ricochet.
The other officers did not return gunfire.
Diamond underwent surgery at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and was recovering in ICU, according to Pomona police Lt. Michael Keltner, who said the father of two was surrounded by his family and members of the Pomona Police Department.
“We are hoping for the best,” he said.
Diamond was a 16-year veteran of the force and had served 8 years in the Pomona Police Department.
Keltner described Diamond as a “top-notch guy” who had a “great sense of humor” and was “a wonderful human being.” Keltner added that the officer was active in the community, especially with children.
The suspected gunman, David Martinez, was described by police as a member of a “dangerous” motorcycle gang, according to report in the Los Angeles Times.
Martinez was arrested at the scene on suspicion of the attempted murder of a police officer.
He was being held on $1 million bail.
Martinez has a previous criminal record the includes assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.
He was expected to appear in court on Thursday.
“The warrant was related to “outlaw motorcycle gangs,” according to Nicole Nishida with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She added that multiple agencies were involved in multiple locations, but did not comment further on the operation.
KTLA’s Alberto Mendez contributed to this report.
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