Superior Court Judge Kathleen Blanchard rejected a motion by defense attorney George Rosenstock to dismiss the case against Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar.
The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, lying in wait and firing from a vehicle, along with allegations that he personally used and discharged a .22-caliber revolver.
LA County Sheriff Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer’s fiancé Brittany Lindsey and his mother Kim watch his casket leave his memorial service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Deputy Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed in his patrol car as he sat near the sheriff’s station in Palmdale. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LA County Sheriff Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer’s mother Kim watches his casket leave his memorial service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Deputy Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed in his patrol car as he sat near the sheriff’s station in Palmdale. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Archbishop José Gomez leaves LA County Sheriff Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer’s memorial service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Deputy Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed in his patrol car as he sat near the sheriff’s station in Palmdale. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff deputies attend Ryan Clinkunbroomer’s memorial service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Deputy Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed in his patrol car as he sat near the sheriff’s station in Palmdale. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Members of fallen Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, from left to right, fiancee Brittany Lindsey, father Mike and mother Kim walk behind his flag-draped coffin after his funeral service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Kim Clinkunbroomer, left, mother of Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer cries next her husband Mike during the funeral service for the fallen sheriff’s deputy at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Members of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. line up for the arrival of the coffin carrying fallen sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for his funeral service, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16, while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A U.S. flag is placed outside of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for the funeral service of Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Archbishop José H. Gomez, right, conducts mass during the funeral service for Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Members of the Los Angels County Sheriff’s Dept. attend during the funeral service for sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Members of fallen Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, from left to right, fiancee Brittany Lindsey, father Mike and mother Kim walk behind his flag-draped coffin after his funeral service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
A member or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. wears a black band over his badge during the funeral service for sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna salutes the coffin of Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer during a funeral service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16, while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Kim Clinkunbroomer, center, mother of Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, is hugged during his funeral service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Archbishop José H. Gomez, right, conducts mass during the funeral service for Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Brittany Lindsey, left, fiancee of Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer wipes tears from her eyes next to Clinkunbroomer’s mother Kim, second from left, and father Mike, third from left, during a funeral service for the fallen Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed Sept. 16 while sitting in his patrol car in Palmdale, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Santa Clarita residents gather for a candlelight vigil to honor fallen Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Sunday night at Marketplace Park in Santa Clarita, CA September 24, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Clarita residents gather for a candlelight vigil to honor fallen Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Sunday night at Marketplace Park in Santa Clarita, CA September 24, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
LA County sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer’s father Mike and mother Kim comfort his fiancé Brittany Lindsey after she spoke for the first time since Clinkunbroomer was killed in Palmdale during a press conference with Sheriff Robert Luna and District Attorney George Gascón in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was in a patrol car near Sierra Highway and Avenue Q in Palmdale around 6 p.m. Sept. 16, 2023 when a car pulled alongside him and the occupant started shooting. The assailant then drove off. The deputy died at a hospital. The suspected shooter, Kevin Cataneo Salazar of Palmdale, is scheduled to appear at the Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Court on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Association For Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs)
The home of shooting suspect Kevin Salazar where sheriffs took him into custody Monday, September 18, 2023. LASD Sheriff Robert Luna announced the arrest of 29-year-old Kevin Salazar as a suspect in the shooting death of Ryan Clinkunbroomer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LASD Sheriff Robert Luna announces the arrest of 29 year-old Kevin Cataneo Salazar, as a suspect in the shooting death of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer outside of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Monday, September 18, 2023. Clinkunbroomer was found shot in his patrol vehicle outside of the station Saturday evening. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Miguel Ruiz, center, and his wife Sara, seated, attend a vigil for Los Angeles Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station on Sunday, September 17, 2023 after the training officer was shot and killed in his patrol car outside the station. The Ruiz’ son is a deputy at the Palmdale station. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A procession is underway after a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed while in his patrol car in front of the department’s Palmdale station on (Photo by RMG News)
Law enforcement officials and first responders honor LASD Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer in an overnight procession on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. (Photo by RMG News)
An overnight procession was held for LASD Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, fatally shot near the Palmdale station on Saturday evening. (Photo by RMG News)
A procession is underway after a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed while in his patrol car in front of the department’s Palmdale station. (Photo by RMG News)
Salazar entered a dual plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with the killing.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Gustavo Carrillo testified during the hearing that Salazar acknowledged his involvement in the shooting during questioning at the Palmdale sheriff’s station by detectives two days after the killing. Salazar told investigators that he felt bad and “cried for the (expletive) officer,” according to the detective.
Under cross-examination by Salazar’s attorney, the detective acknowledged that when asked why he had shot the deputy that Salazar responded that it had “started a long time ago before COVID” and that he “began to hear voices in his head.”
“You asked him if the voices told him to shoot the deputy?” the defense lawyer asked.
“He replied it was everything,” Carrillo responded.
Under renewed questioning by Deputy District Attorney Michael Blake, the sheriff’s detective said Salazar didn’t have any trouble understanding his questions and only began talking about “voices” when he was asked about the deputy’s killing.
Investigators didn’t initially know who had shot and killed the 30-year-old sheriff’s deputy, but used surveillance video footage to identify a vehicle believed to be a charcoal gray Toyota Corolla and then to ask the public to come forward with any information about the vehicle, according to Carrillo.
The detective said that among those who contacted investigators was a motorist who testified that he took a photo of the license plate of a vehicle whose driver had aggressively confronted him about seven minutes before authorities believe Clinkunbroomer was shot. Syed Alam identified Salazar in court as that driver.
Avak Astajyan — who came upon the scene of the shooting — told the judge that he was driving in the area of Sierra Highway and East Avenue Q and heard honking, then realized something wasn’t right about the police vehicle sitting in one of the lanes.
“He was gasping for air … He was bleeding from his nose,” the prosecution witness testified, noting that he subsequently noticed blood coming from the back of the deputy’s head.
He testified that he ran to the nearby sheriff’s station and started screaming, “Officer down!” with deputies subsequently rushing out of the building.
The sheriff’s detective testified that surveillance video showed the charcoal gray compact car driving southbound behind a patrol SUV with a sheriff’s sergeant behind the wheel, and then making a U-turn after the sergeant pulled into the sheriff’s station’s parking lot and Clinkunbroomer pulled out of the station heading northbound.
Authorities used the license plate number shown in the photo taken by Alam and determined that someone living at his house had a registered .22-caliber firearm, with detectives subsequently getting an arrest warrant for Salazar and a search warrant for his home, where a .22-caliber revolver was discovered, the detective testified.
Salazar subsequently acknowledged that he had used that gun to shoot Clinkunbroomer, according to the detective.
The wounded deputy — a third-generation deputy who had become engaged to be married four days before he was killed — was rushed to Antelope Valley Medical Center in grave condition and was pronounced dead that night.
A deputy medical examiner concluded that Clinkunbroomer died from a single gunshot that entered the back of his head, the detective testified.
Salazar’s family insisted he is not a “coward” — as Sheriff Robert Luna called him — but is mentally ill.
“My brother, he’s getting called a coward,” Salazar’s sister, Jessica, told reporters shortly after his arrest. “He wasn’t in his right state of mind.”
“I do want you guys to know that my brother did have schizophrenia,” she said. “He has paranoia. He heard voices. We’re not justifying, we don’t know if he did (the shooting), if he did not. We are not justifying anything. We feel for the family. It hurts.”
She said then that her family was praying for the Clinkunbroomer family, but added there are “two sides to the story.”
“Just please, don’t punish him like if he was a regular person. He’s sick,” she said.
Luna’s mother, Marle Salazar, also told reporters her son was mentally ill and had stopped taking his medication, but they were unable to get him the help that he needed. She said she was unaware her son owned any firearms, but said an investigator told her that he had legally purchased a weapon.
“The proliferation of guns in our society is one of the causes of an event like this,” Salazar’s attorney said outside court Thursday, adding that there has also been a “failure of gun dealers to properly check the mental history of people purchasing these guns.”
The deputy’s parents, Kim and Michael Clinkunbroomer, have filed a lawsuit accusing the sheriff’s department and county officials of knowingly endangering the lives of deputies by forcing them to work excessive hours and shifts. Their attorney, Bradley Gage, told reporters last year that Ryan Clinkunbroomer worked 69 hours of overtime, in addition to his normal 80 hours, in the two weeks prior to his death.
The deputy’s mother told ABC News last year that District Attorney George Gascón’s decision not to pursue the death penalty against Salazar is a “disgrace.”
At a news conference shortly after the case was filed, Gascón stood by the decision not to seek death for the defendant.
“If I thought that seeking the death penalty was going to bring Ryan back to us, I would seek it without any reservation. But it won’t,” the district attorney said at the time.
“If I thought that the death penalty was going to stop people from committing brutal murders, I would seek it. But we know that it won’t. The reality is that the death penalty doesn’t serve as a deterrent, and the death penalty does not bring people back. … What I can assure you is that we’re going to do everything within our legal power to make sure that this defendant never is out of prison.”
If Salazar is convicted and determined to have been insane at the time of the killing, he would be confined to a state hospital rather than prison.
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