Outside the El Monte police headquarters, a memorial tribute grew overnight as people dropped off flowers, candles and messages of support.
It was the tight-knit community’s response to the deaths of two police officers killed early Tuesday evening, after they were struck in a motel shootout while responding to a report of a possible stabbing.
One of those officers had just joined the El Monte police force, and had been out patrolling for less than a year. The other officer was a veteran of the department, dedicating 22 years of his life to law enforcement.
Their deaths are a devastating loss for the El Monte community, as well as for the police department and the officers’ families.
City officials say the two men had deep ties to many El Monte neighborhoods. One of them was of them raised in the city and attended local schools.
El Monte interim Police Chief Ben Lowry called the officers heroes.
“These two men were loved,” Lowry said at a Tuesday night news conference. “They were good men. They paid the ultimate sacrifice serving their community, trying to help somebody.”
According to City officials and several law enforcement sources, the two officers responded to a report of a possible stabbing at the Siesta Inn motel on Garvey Avenue just before 5:00 p.m.
The officers “confronted the suspect” and a shootout erupted inside a motel room, Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide Capt. Andrew Meyer said. The gunman fled the motel room into the parking lot where more gunfire was exchanged.
Meyer said he didn’t know whether the officers were shot inside the motel or outside. The two wounded officers were taken to LA County USC Medical Center where they died from their injuries. The alleged gunman was shot and died at the scene.
An emotional procession took place late on Tuesday night for the two fallen officers as their bodies were transported from the hospital to the coroner’s office.
Behind the transport van, a group of family members could be seen walking together, heartbroken as they accompanied their loved ones to the coroner’s office.
Officers from multiple agencies, firefighters, first responders and local residents came out in droves for the procession, paying their respects to the men who died serving their community.
NewsChopper4 also flew over the long procession of police cars and other emergency vehicles.
A number of other law enforcement agencies in LA County sent officers to El Monte to assist with regular patrol duties in order to allow El Monte officers time to grieve, officials told NBCLA.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
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