Downey police Officer Ricardo Galvez, 29, was in plainclothes in the driver’s seat of his vehicle at the end of his shift when two men ran up and opened fire late Wednesday, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lieutenant John Corina said.
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She said the motive for the shooting was not immediately known.
Corina said two men in their 20s and a juvenile were out looking for someone to rob when they spotted Galvez.
Galvez had been a member of the police force for 5 years, following one tour each in Afghanistan and Iraq as a U.S. Marine.
Afterward, the two men got into a vehicle and fled, he said. That officer chased the vehicle to the nearby community of Montebello, where the three suspects bailed out, Corina said. Authorities didn’t say whether they believed Galvez was targeted for personal reasons or because of his profession.
Video surveillance footage and statements made by the suspects led to their arrest, authorities said.
A few of the suspects have admitted to the attempted robbery, Corina said. Lt. Mark McDaniel says Galvez was “a model officer”. The field patrol officer was not married and did not have children.
“Ricky … was a tremendous young man who loved serving the residents of Downey”, Charles said. “Our department is hurting”.
Several police departments, including Irwindale, Montebello and San Bernardino police, tweeted out their condolences as news of Galvez’s slaying spread.
Abel Diaz is scheduled to be arraigned later this afternoon in a Downey courtroom, and would face life in state prison if convicted in the killing of Officer Ricardo Galvez, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
But for police officers, the idea of being targeted due to their job has always been a fear that comes with the job. The five-year veteran died in his auto. The 37-year-old officer and his partner had responded to the scene of a disabled truck and were getting back on their motorcycles when the speeding driver hit them. Guthrie was tossed into the curb and sustained serious injuries.
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In a statement issued Thursday morning, Downey city officials described Galvez’s death as tragic and asked for prayers for his family and fellow officers.
