shootings – Attorney Legal Counsel

Lawyer fatally shoots former daughter-in-law and fellow attorney in Las Vegas – NBC Los Angeles

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:30:33 +0000

A lawyer fatally shot his former daughter-in-law, as well as a fellow attorney, during a deposition at a Las Vegas law firm Monday morning, two sources familiar with the investigation said to NBC News.

The shooter opened fire at the Prince Law Group office in Summerlin during a deposition of his son, whom he had been representing, the sources told NBC News on Monday afternoon.

The other lawyer was representing his own wife, who was the former daughter-in-law of the shooter and opposing counsel, the sources said.

The alleged gunman died after turning the gun on himself, according to the sources. His son survived.

The sources characterized the shooting as targeted and domestic-related.

The incident occurred about 10 a.m. at the fifth-floor law office on West Charleston Boulevard near Pavilion Center Drive, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference.

“The suspect was not killed by my police. We believe he took his own life,” he said, noting that there was no further threat to the public.

Police did not publicly release the names of the shooter or the victims.

Robert Eglet told NBC News that the attorney who was slain was his former law partner and that they had known each other for 30 years. The pair “were close friends for a very, very long time,” Eglet said.

“He was a very good guy. He was one of the finest trial lawyers in the state of Nevada. It’s tragic and it’s senseless,” he said.

Eglet said his friend specialized in medical malpractice.

There were businesses adjacent to the law office where the shooting occurred, McMahill said. First responders evacuated the building and followed an active-shooter protocol, officials said. Hundreds of people were evacuated, according to police.

The suspect’s vehicle was being investigated, McMahill said, adding that police were trying to shore up a motive.

“We have a theory at this point, but I cannot release any of that information until we’ve confirmed that information,” he said.

NBC News called a law office on the fifth floor Monday afternoon, but the call went unanswered. Police said they were using nearby Red Rock Casino as an assistance center.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

Read the full story on NBCNews.com here.

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California judge pleads not guilty to murder in wife’s death

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 14:59:52 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California judge charged with killing his wife during an argument while he was drunk pleaded not guilty to murder Tuesday, and his lawyer says it was an “accidental shooting.”

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ricardo Ocampo ordered Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who appeared in court in a suit and tie, to surrender his passport, submit to searches, and wear monitoring devices for blood alcohol content and GPS as part of new bail conditions sought by prosecutors. Ferguson, who is free on $1 million bail, also is barred from possessing firearms and alcohol and frequenting places such as bars and liquor stores.

After the hearing, Ferguson’s lawyers told reporters the long-time judge and former prosecutor was confident a jury would agree with him that no crime was committed.

“This was an unintentional, accidental shooting and not a crime,” attorney Paul Meyer said.

The hearing was held in Los Angeles because Ferguson has been a judge hearing criminal cases in a courtroom about 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the southeast in Orange County. The next hearing in Ferguson’s case was set for Oct. 30.

The 72-year-old was arrested on Aug. 3 at his home in the upscale neighborhood of Anaheim Hills after police found his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, shot to death. Prosecutors said in court filings that the couple had been arguing and the judge was drinking when he pulled a pistol from an ankle holster and shot her in the chest. The couple’s adult son and Ferguson called 911, and Ferguson texted his court clerk and bailiff to say he had shot his wife, according to the filings.

He texted: “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry,” according to the filing.

Prosecutors argued the new bail conditions protect public safety and ensure Ferguson doesn’t flee after authorities found 47 weapons, including the pistol used in the shooting, and more than 26,000 rounds of ammunition at his home. They say the weapons are legally owned but a rifle registered in his name is still missing.

Ferguson was charged with one count of murder and weapons-related enhancements.

Larry Rosen, Sheryl Ferguson’s brother, spoke with reporters after Tuesday’s hearing and said it was “hell” when Ferguson looked at him in the courtroom.

“My sister was a wonderful person, very caring, very selfless,” Rosen said. “The family is absolutely in shock.”

Rosen declined to discuss Ferguson’s lawyers’ claims that the shooting was an accident and said he would defer to the police and prosecutors who are investigating.

Rosen said his sister helped take care of him since he was still a minor when their mother died. He also said she was an active member of her community, participating in Boy Scouts and activities with her now-adult son. The son, who authorities said called 911 after the shooting, is the main focus of the family now, Rosen said.

“It’s a tragedy for me. I can’t even fathom what he’s going through right now,” Rosen said.

The arrest shocked the Southern California legal community and officials have been grappling with how the case should be handled. The district attorney’s office in Orange County — a cluster of cities that are collectively home to more than 3 million people — asked state officials to weigh in on whether there was a conflict before charging him last week.

Ferguson has been a judge since 2015. He started his legal career in the Orange County district attorney’s office in 1983 and went on to work narcotics cases, for which he won various awards. He served as president of the North Orange County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014.

In 2017, Ferguson was admonished by the Commission on Judicial Performance for posting a statement on Facebook about a judicial candidate “with knowing or reckless disregard for the truth of the statement,” and for being Facebook friends with attorneys appearing before him in court, according to a copy of the agency’s findings.

Ferguson said on his Facebook page that he grew up in a military family and traveled throughout Asia as a child. He went on to attend college and law school in California. He and his wife were married in 1996.

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California judge who’s charged with murder texted court staff that he shot his wife, prosecutors say

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:13:26 +0000

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California judge accused of killing his wife during an argument while drunk texted his court clerk and bailiff afterward to say he had shot her, prosecutors said Friday as they charged him with murder.

A court filing from prosecutors says Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson texted minutes after last week’s killing: “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”

Ferguson is free on $1 million bail. But prosecutors said they’re seeking new bail conditions to protect public safety and ensure he doesn’t flee after authorities found 47 weapons, including the pistol used in the shooting, and more than 26,000 rounds of ammunition at his Anaheim home. The weapons are legally owned but a rifle registered in his name is still missing, they said.

The shooting happened after Ferguson and his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, were arguing at a restaurant on Aug. 3, the Orange County district attorney’s office said in the court filing. The argument continued after the couple returned to their home in the upscale neighborhood of Anaheim Hills. The court document says the wife said something to the effect of “why don’t you point a real gun at me?” and he pulled a pistol from his ankle holster and shot her in the chest.

Their adult son called 911 and said his father had been drinking too much and shot his mom, the document says.

Jeffrey Ferguson also called 911 to vaguely report the shooting. When asked if he shot his wife, he said he didn’t want to talk about it at that time and she needed paramedics.

When officers arrived, Ferguson smelled of alcohol and told them, “Oh man I can’t believe I did this,” according to the document.

Ferguson, 72, was arrested at his home. He was released a day later and is set to be arraigned on Sept. 1.

On Friday, prosecutors charged Ferguson with murder with weapons-related enhancements. They want him to surrender his passport, wear an ankle monitor and possess no alcohol or firearms.

Ferguson’s attorneys, Paul Meyer and John Barnett, issued a brief statement and declined to answer questions. “This is a tragedy for the entire Ferguson family. It was an accident and nothing more,” they said.

Ferguson has been a judge since 2015. He handles criminal cases in the Orange County city of Fullerton. He started his legal career in the Orange County district attorney’s office in 1983 and went on to work narcotics cases, for which he won various awards. He served as president of the North Orange County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014.

In 2017, Ferguson was admonished by the Commission on Judicial Performance for posting a statement on Facebook about a judicial candidate “with knowing or reckless disregard for the truth of the statement” and for being Facebook friends with attorneys appearing before him in court, according to a copy of the agency’s findings.

The arrest shocked the Southern California legal community and officials have been grappling with how the case should be handled. The Orange County district attorney’s office asked state officials to weigh in on whether there was a conflict of interest before filing charges. A judge in neighboring Los Angeles County will hear the case, officials said.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which runs the county jail, said Ferguson was released last week according to the pre-established rules for bail and the law. No additional conditions were sought for his release by Anaheim’s police agency, which arrested him, said Jeff Puckett, Orange County’s assistant sheriff for custody operations.

“We’re simply the people that housed him as part of our county mandate to house arrestees,” he said. “The sheriff’s department cannot impose conditions.”

At the time of Ferguson’s arrest, the facts and circumstances didn’t justify a bail enhancement, said Anaheim police Sgt. Jon McClintock. He said the judge “is afforded the same constitutional right to post bail as anyone else” and declined to comment on the filing by the district attorney’s office.

Orange County is made up of a cluster of cities — the most populous being Anaheim — that are between Los Angeles and San Diego and are collectively home to more than 3 million people.

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California judge who allegedly texted court staff that he shot his wife pleads not guilty

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:48:02 +0000

Orange County judge pleads not guilty to murder charge

02:28

A Southern California judge charged with killing his wife during an argument while he was drunk pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson remains free on $1 million bail, though he must wear an electronic tracking bracelet and stay within Orange, Riverside or Los Angeles counties.

He also is prohibited from drinking alcohol or going to places where alcohol is the primary business, must surrender his passport, and is barred from owning any weapons or ammunition, according to CBS Los Angeles. Prosecutors also asked that he be barred from contacting his adult son, who called police after the shooting.

His next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

The 72-year-old was arrested on Aug. 3 at his home in the upscale neighborhood of Anaheim Hills after police found his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, shot to death. Police said said she suffered from at least one gunshot wound.

Prosecutors said in court filings that the couple had begun arguing at a restaurant. As they went home, the argument continued. The complaint alleged that Ferguson made a threatening hand gesture “indicative of pointing a gun at” his wife, according to CBS Los Angeles. When his wife said something to the effect of “Why don’t you point a real gun at me?” the judge allegedly pulled a Glock .40 pistol from his ankle holder and shot her in the chest, according to court filings.

Ferguson had been drinking at the time, the court document said.

Investigators remove firearms from a house in Anaheim, CA on Aug. 4, 2023. Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was arrested Aug. 3 after police received reports of a shooting in an Anaheim home and found the judges wife, Sheryl Ferguson, inside with at least one fatal gunshot wound, police said.

Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

The couple’s adult son and Ferguson called 911, and Ferguson texted his court clerk and bailiff to say he had shot his wife, according to the filings.

He texted: “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry,” according to the filing.

Ferguson also allegedly told officers who responded to the scene that he couldn’t “believe (he) did this.”

Ferguson’s attorneys have said it was an accident and a tragedy for the family.

The arrest shocked the Southern California legal community and officials have been grappling with how the case should be handled. The district attorney‘s office in Orange County — a cluster of cities about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles that are collectively home to more than 3 million people — asked state officials to weigh in on whether there was a conflict before charging him last week. Ferguson was arraigned in Los Angeles.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson is seen in a police booking photo released Aug. 4, 2023.

Anaheim Police Department

Ferguson has been a judge since 2015. He started his legal career in the Orange County district attorney‘s office in 1983 and went on to work narcotics cases, for which he won various awards. He served as president of the North Orange County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014.

As previously reported by CBS News, Sheryl Ferguson worked for the Santa Barbara and Orange County probation departments, and the American Funds Service Company for almost 20 years, before becoming a mother.

The couple have two adult sons, according to CBS Los Angeles.

More from CBS News

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California biker bar shooting leaves 5 dead, 6 injured

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 07:04:07 +0000

A gunman who killed three people and wounded five others inside a popular biker bar in Orange County, California, Wednesday night was a former police officer.

John Snowling, who retired nearly a decade ago as a sergeant, was identified as the shooter by officials with the Ventura Police Department, where he worked for 27 years.

“Our hearts weigh heavy with the distressing incident at Cook’s Corner,” said Ventura PD Chief Darin Schindler in a statement. “Our deepest condolences are with the families of the victims, the survivors and the Orange County deputies who swiftly responded to the scene. This incident deeply affects us all.”

Snowling targeted his estranged wife, Marie, who was shot in the lower jaw, according to the Orange County Register.

Marie Snowling filed for divorce in December 2022, according to court records viewed by The Post.

Her father, William Mosby, told the Orange County Register his estranged son-in-law was a “crazy husband” who couldn’t deal with the divorce. Mosby said his daughter was alive and was rushed to UCI Medical Center.

The mayhem began shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday as a domestic dispute between Snowling and his wife inside the bar, Orange County Sheriff’s officials said.

He allegedly shot his wife and another seven people, including a cook, Orange County Sheriff’s officials said.

Six people, including five with gunshot wounds, were hospitalized, authorities said.

Four people are dead and multiple were injured after a gunman opened fire at a bar in Orange County, Calif., on Aug. 23. ABC 7

Two were critically injured, with one shot in the chest.

The chef who was shot in the arm will undergo surgery on Thursday.

Three other men with minor injuries were treated and released Wednesday night, Mission Hospital officials said.

Two of them were critically injured, while the other four were listed in stable condition.

Deputies shot Snowling outside the bar as he was heading to his truck, apparently to reload, according to a witness.

Emergency and medical response staff treat victims after a bar shooting at Cook’s Corner in Orange County, Calif., on Aug. 23. ABC 7

Another witness, whose friend was shot in the back as they ran from the gunfire and is believed to be among the dead, told KCAL that they first heard five to six shots from inside the bar and then a pause followed by a barrage of additional gunshots.

He told the station he initially thought his friend had tripped.

He said he hid in the bar’s kitchen with a chef who was shot in the arm.

A massive law enforcement presence responded to Cook’s Corner, a well-known biker bar and grill, moments after the shooting in Orange County, Calif., on Aug. 23. ABC 7

No deputies were injured during the shooting.

Investigators recovered one firearm from the scene.

Locals said the historic bar, which opened in 1926, was likely packed at the time of the gunfire as patrons came for its unlimited spaghetti night and a live band.

Undersheriff Jeff Hallock described the watering hole as “a beloved part” of the community.

FBI agents are helping with the investigation.

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A California man is found guilty of murder for killing a 6-year-old boy in a freeway shooting

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 21:20:31 +0000

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A jury on Thursday convicted a California man of murder for shooting to death a 6-year-old boy who was riding in the back of his mother’s car on a busy freeway.

Jurors in Orange County found 26-year-old Marcus Eriz guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Aiden Leos, who was strapped in a booster seat on his way to kindergarten. They also found him guilty of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle.

Authorities said Eriz and his girlfriend, Wynne Lee, were heading to work on May 21, 2021, when Lee cut off a car driven by Aiden’s mother, who responded with a rude gesture. Eriz pulled out a gun, reached out the window and fired a shot at the mother’s car that went through the trunk and pierced Aiden’s heart, authorities said.

The shooting shocked the county of 3 million, which relies heavily on a network of freeways to get to work and school, and drew international attention as authorities searched more than two weeks for the killer.

“If you shoot somebody or use violence in this county, and you harm an individual, you will pay the price,” Orange County District attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters after the verdicts were read.

“Mr. Eriz is looking at 40 years to life. His life is over, and it’s because he took the life of this precious, innocent little boy,” Spitzer said, pointing to a large photo on display of a smiling Aiden.

Eriz looked directly at jurors as they were polled after the verdicts were read. He is being held without bail and scheduled to be sentenced on April 12. Eriz’s attorney, Randall Bethune, declined to comment Thursday.

Just over two weeks after the shooting, authorities arrested Eriz and Lee outside their apartment in the Orange County city of Costa Mesa after chasing leads to the white car she had been driving.

Eriz told police he pulled out his gun and fired the shot, knowing it was dangerous, Dan Feldman, senior deputy district attorney, told jurors during the trial.

Eriz’s attorney argued his client didn’t mean to kill anyone in what began as a road rage incident and didn’t know he had until days later when a co-worker commented that Lee’s car looked like the one authorities were searching for.

Lee, who has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact, is being tried separately.

Jurors began deliberations late Wednesday. They met for a little more than an hour Thursday when they announced they had reached a verdict, Feldman said.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard M. King thanked jurors and told them free counseling was available for them if needed.

“This has been a very trying case,” he said before dismissing them.

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2 Los Angeles County men exonerated after spending decades in prison

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 07:40:09 +0000

LOS ANGELES — Two men who spent decades in prison for crimes they didn’t commit have been exonerated and freed, the Los Angeles County district attorney announced Wednesday.

Giovanni Hernandez and Miguel Solorio had their convictions vacated earlier this year and on Wednesday a judge found them factually innocent, the District attorney‘s Office said in an email.

At a news conference, District attorney George Gascón apologized to both men.

“It’s truly devastating when people are wrongfully convicted, especially when they were so young at the time of their arrest. In the case of Mr. Solorio, he was 19 years old. Mr. Hernandez was just 14 years old,” Gascón said.

After two trials, Hernandez was convicted in 2012 of killing 16-year-old Gary Ortiz during a 2006 drive-by shooting in Culver City. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Hernandez said he was at home with his family at the time of the shooting.

He was exonerated after his case was twice submitted to the Conviction Integrity Unit of the District attorney‘s Office.

Investigators interviewed witnesses who hadn’t previously been contacted and analyzed Hernandez’s cellphone records, which showed he wasn’t near the shooting location, according to a statement from the DA’s office.

Solorio spent 25 years in prison following his conviction for the 1998 shooting of an 81-year-old woman, Mary Bramlett, in an unincorporated county area near Whittier.

Authorities contended Solorio was driving a car containing gang members who mistakenly shot Bramlett while she was stopped at a red light. She had been driving home with some friends after playing bridge at church.

Solorio, who said he had spent the evening with his girlfriend, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

His attorney submitted an innocence claim in 2021 to the Conviction Integrity Unit, which concluded on the basis of new evidence that Solorio had been misidentified in a photo lineup, the DA’s office statement said.

Hernandez was represented by the Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic at Loyola Law School and Solorio was represented by the Northern California Innocence Project.

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California man Ryan Hopkins who drove while friend shot homeless woman with pellet gun sobs as he is sentenced

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 08:44:03 +0000

A California man who was behind the wheel as his friend fatally shot a sleeping homeless grandmother with a pellet gun while they went “hobo hunting” sobbed as he learned his fate Friday.

Ryan Hopkins, 19, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon for driving his friend William Innes, who shot 68-year-old Annette Pershal while she slept outside a coffee shop in May, NBC San Diego reported.

“I want to take a second to say I’m sorry to all you guys and the pain you have to go through,” a tearful Hopkins told Pershal’s family in the courtroom. “I’m sorry we’re all here today.”

Hopkins received a suspended three-year prison term, which could be imposed if he violates his terms of probation after serving six months in jail.

Hopkins’ defense attorney told the court Innes shot Pershal with the pellet gun while his client was trying to connect to the car’s Bluetooth, hearing his friend say, “Watch this” before opening fire on the sleeping grandmother.

The prosecution argued that Hopkins pleading guilty meant he was well aware of the crime. YouTube/NBC 7 San Diego

Hopkins pleaded guilty of driving the car to go “hobo hunting,” in the murder of a homeless woman. San Diego District attorney‘s Office

“Shooting at someone who is sleeping on the ground in a helpless, vulnerable state?” Hopkins attorney Vikas Bajaj asked the court, adding his accomplice’s actions were “disgusting.”

Bajaj said Hopkins didn’t know Innes’ intentions when he got in the car, despite the alleged shooter texting in a group chat that included his client, he was going “hobo hunting,” according to the outlet.

The prosecution said Hopkins pleading guilty meant he was well aware of the damage he caused.

“He drove himself and his codefendant across the street, stopped right before Ms. Pershal who was shot, suffering, and they watched 15 to 20 seconds to see if they hit their target,” the prosecution argued.

Annette Pershal (L) was shot multiple times with a pellet gun by William Innes. Brandy Nazworth

Pershal’s daughter Brandy Nazworth said her mother was a beloved figure in the neighborhood, with many residents referring to her as “Granny Annie.”

“To find out someone had shot her with a pellet gun … you don’t even treat animals like that,” Nazworth told the Union-Tribune. “She was a person, not just a thing to be used for target practice.”

Officers found an unconscious Pershal in the early morning of May 8 after being shot six to eight times with the pellet gun.

Pershal was a beloved figure in the neighborhood, with many residents referring to her as “Granny Annie.” Family Handout

The grandmother was struck in the head, leg, and torso with pellets.

One pellet ended up rupturing her aorta.

Pershal was quickly rushed to the hospital with doctors calling her injuries “non-survivable,” according to authorities.

She was pronounced dead on May 11

William Innes has been charged with first-degree murder for shooting and killing Pershal with the pellet gun. San Diego District attorney‘s Office

Police arrested both Hopkins and Innes on Aug. 3.

“This was a callous, conscious disregard for life,” Deputy District attorney Roza Egiazarian said in May.

Innes has been charged with first-degree murder and remains in custody without bail, according to NBC San Diego.

He is waiting for his trial readiness hearing later this month.

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Family of Los Angeles deputy killed in ambush shooting plans to sue county over forced overtime

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:56:56 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The parents of a Los Angeles County deputy who was shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car plan to file a lawsuit accusing the sheriff’s department and county leaders of putting law enforcement officers at risk by making them work excessive overtime because of severe understaffing, an attorney announced Tuesday.

Investigators said Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, was ambushed Sept. 16 while waiting for a traffic light to change in Palmdale, a city of more than 167,000 residents in the high desert of northern LA County.

“I don’t want any parent to ever have to sit at a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner with someone missing, like we had to this year,” the deputy’s mother, Kim Clinkunbroomer, said tearfully at a news conference.

“Had he not been fatigued and exhausted, he would have responded safely; he’d be here today,” said the deputy’s father, Michael Clinkunbroomer.

Clinkunbroomer had racked up 69 hours of overtime in the two weeks leading up to the shooting and had worked a double shift the day before, said attorney Brad Gage, who represents the slain deputy’s parents. Clinkunbroomer was so exhausted from being overworked that his senses were dulled and he missed “the telltale signs” of an impending ambush, Gage said.

Prosecutors have charged Kevin Cataneo Salazar, 29, with one count of murder, plus special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, murder committed by lying in wait, murder committed by firing from a car and personal use of a firearm. Cataneo Salazar has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Gage said in a government claim filed Monday that Clinkunbroomer was forced to work up to 100 hours of overtime each month. Gage accuses Sheriff Robert Luna, department officials and county leaders of knowingly endangering the lives of law enforcement officers by enforcing excessive amounts of mandatory overtime.

The claim is the precursor to a wrongful death lawsuit and names the county sheriff’s department and Board of Supervisors. County officials have 45 days to respond to the claim before a lawsuit can be filed.

Gage said the lawsuit would seek $20 million in damages and changes to sheriff’s department staffing and scheduling policies.

In a statement Tuesday, the sheriff’s department did not comment on the potential lawsuit. Luna, who was sworn in as sheriff a year ago, has previously vowed to make increasing the number of deputies a priority.

“The senseless ambush murder of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was the epitome of evil and the Department continues to mourn his death. We lost a valued member of our Department family who was committed to serving our communities,” the department statement said. “The Sheriff’s Department remains committed to securing a successful prosecution against the individual responsible for Ryan’s murder. Our thoughts continue to remain with the entire Clinkunbroomer family.”

Law enforcement officers and members of the public are at risk because “fatigue resulting from these demanding work schedules impairs the deputies’ ability to stay alert and respond effectively in the line of duty,” the claim states.

“Sheriff Luna and the Board of Supervisors knew of the dangers to their employees as a result of intentionally forcing overtime, but intentionally pursued such actions in conscious disregard of the rights and safety of deputies,” Gage writes in the claim.

The Board of Supervisors did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the allegations.

“Everybody likes to work a bit of overtime, to earn a bit of extra money, but they don’t want to work so much overtime that they’re unable to take care of themselves and others,” said Gage, the family’s attorney.

The head of the deputies’ union said limited staffing is an ongoing problem in Los Angeles, but did not respond to specific questions about average overtime worked by its members.

“The department’s staffing crisis is pushing our deputies to, and sadly sometimes beyond, their limits. We need our elected officials to take a more aggressive and intelligent approach to addressing the department’s inability to recruit and retain qualified people,” said a statement from Rich Pippin, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. “Failure to do so can only result in more tragic outcomes, not only for our deputy sheriffs, but for the millions of people who rely on them for protection.”

The Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, D.C., tracks staffing problems at law enforcement agencies nationwide. “What you’re seeing in LA, you’re seeing across the country,” said Chuck Wexler, the forum’s executive director. “It’s a huge issue.”

Wexler said Tuesday that fewer young people want to work in law enforcement and current police officers are retiring and resigning faster than they can be replaced. The result is more overtime for officers and deputies currently on the job.

“And what you’re finding is increased overtime, for some officers, is contributing to them leaving their jobs,” Wexler said. “It’s a generational thing. Younger officers would rather have more free time than overtime.”

Prosecutors haven’t laid out a motive in the criminal case or said whether Clinkunbroomer and Cataneo Salazar previously knew each other.

Authorities said the deputy was “targeted” but would not say whether Cataneo Salazar was seeking to harm Clinkunbroomer specifically or any member of law enforcement generally.

Cataneo Salazar allegedly followed Clinkunbroomer just before 6 p.m. as he left the sheriff’s Palmdale Station, the district attorney’s office said in a September news release.

The deputy was “waiting for a red light to turn” when he was shot, Luna said at the time.

Cataneo Salazar was arrested after an hourslong standoff with sheriff’s deputies. He had barricaded himself inside his family’s Palmdale home.

His mother, Marle Salazar, told the Los Angeles Times her son was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic about five years ago. He would say he was hearing voices in his head, she said, and sometimes claimed that cars or people were following him. He twice attempted suicide and had been hospitalized at least once, she said.

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A man is convicted of attempted murder in shooting of 2 Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in 2020

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:28:05 +0000

CNN
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A jury on Thursday convicted a man on charges relating to a series of crimes, including attempted murder in the shooting of two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies outside a transit station in September 2020, prosecutors said.

Deonte Murray, 39, was found guilty on 10 charges, including three counts of attempted murder, carjacking, robbery, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and illegal possession of firearms, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said Thursday.

Murray shot two sheriff’s deputies while they were sitting in their car outside a Metro station in Compton, California, on September 12, 2020, authorities said. He was arrested three days after the shooting triggered a massive manhunt as the officers underwent surgery and recovery.

Days before the officers’ shooting, Murray carried out other crimes, authorities said. In Compton on September 1, 2020, he shot the owner of a Mercedes-Benz in the leg with a high-powered rifle before stealing the car, prosecutors said.

Police initially identified Murray as a suspect in the carjacking and arrested him September 15, 2020, authorities said. As police pursued him that day, Murray tossed a firearm from his car, and the weapon was later found to be the same gun used to shoot the deputies, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Kent Wegener said at the time. The firearm was a ghost gun, Wegener said, using a term for a weapon that is typically challenging to trace because it’s made from assembled parts.

Police identified him as a suspect in the deputies’ shooting after his arrest in the carjacking, authorities said.

The deputies’ shooting was caught on surveillance video, which showed a gunman walking up to the passenger door of their squad car parked outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Transit Center and opening fire and running away.

Murray faces a life sentence in prison, the district attorney said in a news release Thursday. Murray’s attorney declined to comment on the conviction.

“This verdict reaffirms our commitment to protecting those who serve and sends a clear message that acts of violence will not go unpunished,” Los Angeles County District attorney George Gascon said.

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