Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies who were shot in an apparent ambush on Saturday are reportedly now out of surgery. According to authorities, both officers are likely to recover from their injuries.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva mentioned on Sunday that they are still investigating the possible motives of the shooting. He added that both officers have at least "survived the worst" of the ordeal, which he described as a "cowardly" act.
The two officers were "ambushed" while they were sitting on inside their vehicles in Compton. At around 7 p.m., an unidentified gunman approached the vehicle where the two officers were and walked along its passenger side. The gunman pretended to walk past the car but he suddenly brandished a pistol and shot both officers several times.
The deputies, one male, and one female, still managed to call for help despite their injustices. Both officers were immediately brought to the St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood. CCTV footage showed the gunman had attacked the officers without provocation or warning, leading investigators to speculate that the attack may have been premeditated.
According to the LASD, the two deputies were only sworn into duty just 14 months ago. One of the victims was a 31-year old mother. Villanueva told reporters that the incident serves as a somber reminder of just how dangerous their jobs are and that every action they do has consequences.
On Sunday, the LASD announced that it will be offering a $100,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that would lead to the arrest of the gunman. The suspect remains at large and investigators are combing through different footage and witness testimonies to find a lead.
Dozens of police officers swarmed the Metro Station in Compton on Sunday, blocking access to the active crime scene. The hospital where the two offers are being treated is also now under heavy police protection. The LASD revealed on Sunday that it had arrested a protester and a reporter outside of the hospital. Both were charged with resisting arrest.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly condemned the shooting. The president posted a tweet on Sunday stating that the country has to get much tougher with its sentencing. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden also condemned the shooting, describing it as "absolutely unconscionable."
