A man accused in the ambush-style fatal shooting of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy in Palmdale over the weekend was charged with murder Wednesday.
Kevin Salazar, 29, entered dual pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity in the Sept. 16 killing of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30.
He also faces special circumstances of lying in wait, murder of a peace officer and discharging a firearm, a .22-caliber revolver, from a vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
Salazar allegedly ambushed and shot Clinkunbroomer as the deputy sat at a red light near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q. Clinkunbroomer was rushed to the Antelope Valley Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
Salazar was arrested Monday after a standoff with authorities at his family’s Palmdale home.
A key piece of evidence in the case is a video showing a car pulling up to Clinkunbroomer’s patrol vehicle just before the shooting.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Blake said Clinkunbroomer was “clearly targeted,” but authorities are still investigating whether Salazar had any previous contact with the victim.
During a news conference Wednesday, District Attorney George Gascón described the killing as “cowardly and senseless,” and indicted Salazar will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“We’re going to do everything within our legal power to make sure that this defendant never gets out of prison,” Gascón said.
Salazar’s family said he struggled with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, that were exacerbated by not taking his medication.
The Sheriff’s Department later confirmed that on the same day Clinkunbroomer was killed, two people reported separate road rage incidents involving Salazar.
The defendant is being held without bail and is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in November.
A procession for Clinkunbroomer from the Medical Examiner’s Office to a mortuary was held late Wednesday morning.
The deputy joined LASD’s Palmdale station in 2018 and served as a field training officer for nearly two years. He had gotten engaged four days before being killed.
Sheriff Robert Luna described Clinkunbroomer as a superstar and an “incredible human being,” who, after the tragic shooting, is “never coming home again.”
Clinkunbroomer’s mother, father and grandfather served with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and he had “service running through his veins,” Luna said.
Flanked by Clinkunbroomer’s loved ones, Gascón said the deputy was a beloved son, brother colleague and community member.
His fiancée, Brittany Lindsey, said Clinkunbroomer was the “best guy” she ever met.
“He was thoughtful, caring, and everyone who met him or knew him, loved him,” she said, her voice breaking. “I couldn’t wait to start our lives together.”
Lindsey also spoke directly to Clinkunbroomer, saying she loves and misses him. “I don’t know how to live without you and I didn’t ever want to imagine it.”