“They were ambushed while trying to keep a safe family,” said El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona.
Officers were identified Wednesday as Corps Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana.
Officers responded to a call about a possible stabbing at a motel in El Monte, said the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the investigation.
When officers arrived, “they confronted the suspect and there was a shootout involving an officer,” said Captain Andrew Meyer of the sheriff’s department. “The suspect fled the hotel room to the car park and there was a second shooting involving an officer. Two officers from the El Monte Police Department and the suspect were shot.”
The two officers were taken to LAC + USC Medical Center, where they died from their injuries. Meyer said no casualties were reportedly stabbed, but authorities are investigating. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, identified as Justin Flores, was out of jail on probation at the time of the shooting, according to a source in the Los Angeles district attorney’s office.
In 2021, Flores pleaded guilty to a felony count of possession of a firearm, Ricardo Santiago, a public information officer in the LA district attorney’s office, said in a statement.
“The sentence he received in the case of firearms was consistent with the resolution of the case for this type of crime given its criminal record and the nature of the crime,” Santiago said, adding that Flores did not have documented history of violence at the time of the crime. sentence.
Flores ‘criminal record dates back to when he was convicted of stealing his grandparents’ house more than 10 years ago, which led to a strike, Santiago said.
The agents had deep ties to the community
Both Paredes and Santana grew up in El Monte and “had a strong connection to the community they served,” the department said in a statement.
Paredes is survived by his wife, daughter and son and spent his entire 22-year career in the El Monte police department.
Santana began his career in the El Monte Public Works Department and served for several years in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department before joining the El Monte Police Force. He is survived by his wife, daughter and twins.
The mayor said both agents were deeply committed to protecting the community.
“These two agents were like a family in our community with deep ties to our neighborhoods,” Ancona said.
“One of our officers grew up in El Monte, went through our schools and was excited to be part of the El Monte Police Department, where he could serve and protect family and friends. The other officer who fell was a new Agent., patrolling our streets, excited to be in the force. “
The mayor said the two officers were also parents.
“These men were dedicated to their careers, and even more so as children, husbands and fathers,” Ancona said. “We stand in solidarity with them, embrace them and their families.”
El Monte’s acting police chief said the murdered officers were heroes.
“These two men were loved. They were good men,” said interim police chief Ben Lowry.
“They paid the utmost sacrifice in the service of their community, trying to help someone. They do it with hundreds of thousands of men and women every day in the United States … And those two heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
CNN’s Ray Sanchez, Stephanie Becker and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report.