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LA shooting: Who are the two deputies who were shot? $100K reward announced for gunman's arrest

The deputies who sustained multiple gunshot wounds are reportedly alive after undergoing surgery but are in critical condition

Los Angeles County Sheriff Department announced a $100,000 reward in the manhunt of an identified gunman who shot two deputies at close range on September 12 around 7 pm at the Metro Blur Line station at Willowbrook Avenue and Compton Boulevard. The deputies who sustained multiple gunshot wounds are reportedly alive after undergoing surgery, but in critical condition, according to ABC7 reports.

The victims’ fellow officer Sheriff Alex Villanueva calling the ambush a “cowardly act” said in a statement, "The two deputies were doing their job, minding their own business, watching out for the safety of the people on the train. To see somebody just walk up and start shooting on them. It pisses me off. It dismays me at the same time. There's no pretty way to say it."

Who are the officers who were shot?

One of the victims of the horrific ambush is a 31-year-old mother of a 6-year-old boy. Her husband reportedly came to St Francis Medical Center in Lynwood after the shooting. The other sheriff who is critically injured is a 24-year-old officer. His parents and girlfriend are reportedly in the hospital with him. Villanueva said that he swore in both the deputies to the office just over a year ago in the same class.

How did the incident unfold? 

The Metro Surveillance video of the attack shows a person clad in black walk towards the car in which the deputies were seated. He walks up to the passenger side and begins to fire shots at a close range. The suspect later runs off on foot. One of the deputies is seen coming out of the passenger side and stumbling around before the footage ends.  

A manhunt for the suspect of the ambush is now underway. LA County Sheriff tweeted on their official handle, “$100K REWARD OFFER in Manhunt for Suspect in Ambush Shooting of 2 LA Sheriff’s Deputies #Compton #LASD.Call investigators with your tips to 323-890-5500.”

In the following tweet, they thanked LA County Board of Supervisors for sponsoring the $100,000 reward. The tweet read, "We at @LASDHQ would like to offer our sincerest appreciation for the overwhelming support being offered from all over the Nation. We also wish to thank @LACountyBOS for sponsoring the $100K reward for the arrest and conviction of this coward."

Strict law was enforced around the local hospital area after the deputies were brought in. However, a small crowd managed to gather near the region including "some apparent demonstrators", say reports. The department shared a tweet saying, "To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling 'We hope they die' referring to 2 LA Sheriff's ambushed today in #Compton: DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ENTRIES & EXITS TO THE HOSPITAL. People's lives are at stake when ambulances can't get through."

The deputies were seen tackling a woman, who was later identified as radio reporter Josie Huang. She was taken into custody and eventually released after she revealed her identity.