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2 LA sheriff's deputies critical after gunman opens fire in Compton, Trump calls shooter 'animal'

The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation, the department tweeted while also posting a video of the incident

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies are "fighting for their lives" after being shot in the head in an apparent "ambush" at a Metro station in Compton, on September 12.

A male and a female officer were shot shortly after 7 pm while they sat in a patrol vehicle at the Metro blue line station at Willowbrook Avenue and Elm Street. Both of them suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were taken to a hospital where they were undergoing surgery, according to the Sheriff’s Department. NBC Los Angeles reported the deputies were taken to St Francis Medical Center in Lynwood. At 8.15 pm, the department further confirmed that their condition was critical.

The department informed the public in a series of tweets, saying, "Update: One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle. Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and are in critical condition. They are both currently undergoing surgery. The suspect is still at large."

"Update: The gunman walked upon the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation," the department tweeted along with a video of the incident. The authorities did not release any description of the shooter or shooters.

Soon, President Donald Trump shared the video of the incident saying, "Animals that must be hit hard!"

As soon as the incident came into light, people started reacting to it. One netizen pointed to the last week's incident where 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee was shot in South Los Angeles by LA County sheriff’s deputies, "This is why people is out protesting to defund the police. You want us to praying for your deputies that just got shot in Compton, but you can’t pray for unarmed black man just got shot by your deputy in South Los Angeles." One angry user commented, "Imagine killing brown and black men in their own homes for decades then when two of your own are shot is it a mystery why it happened?"

Another Internet user came into LAPD's support and said, "2 LAPD transit cops sitting in their car in Compton were ambushed and shot in the head just a bit ago. The comments from disgusting liberals are sickening. The heart is as dead as the soul in so many ignorant people."

And some prayed for the officers in their tweets which read, "Pray for the officers. Pray for their families. Pray for all Law Enforcement and their families in these difficult days and nights. And Pray that the Democrats & their radical Left supporters stop their war on the police. Pray for Peace."

DEVELOPING: This story will be updated.