EL MONTE, Calif. — Two California police officers were shot and killed while responding to a reported stabbing at an El Monte motel, authorities said.
According to KABC and KTLA, the incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Siesta Inn on Garvey Avenue. After El Monte police received a report of a possible stabbing, officers arrived at the motel and “immediately took gunfire,” the city said in a news release.
Update 6:06 p.m. EDT June 15: El Monte police identified the two officers as Corp. Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana, KTLA-TV reported.
“It is with heavy hearts that the City of El Monte and the El Monte Police Department announces the passing of Corp. Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana, the El Monte Police Department said in a statement. “Corp. Paredes and Officer Santana were killed in the line of duty, while faithfully carrying out their sworn duties.”
Santana began his career in El Monte working part-time in public works, the news release stated. He became a law enforcement officer after six years and worked as a deputy with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for three years before joining the El Monte force in 2021.
He is survived by his wife, daughter and twin boys.
Paredes was a cadet with the El Monte Police Department before he became an officer in 2000, the news release stated. He worked several specialized assignments before being appointed a corporal. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son.
It is with heavy hearts that The City of El Monte & The El Monte Police Department announce the passing of Corporal Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana. Corporal Paredes & Officer Santana were killed in the line of duty, while faithfully carrying out their sworn duties 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/wIzwjy6Iga
— El Monte PD (@elmontepolice) June 15, 2022
Original report: The two officers suffered gunshot wounds and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they later died, the release said. The suspect also was shot and died at the scene, the news outlets reported.
— El Monte PD (@elmontepolice) June 15, 2022
Although police have not released the identities of the slain officers, officials did say one had been with the department for 22 years, while the other had joined less than a year ago, according to KTLA.
The name of the suspect was not immediately available.
“There are no words to describe our grief and devastation by this senseless act as we learned about the passing of two of our police officers,” the city, the police force and the El Monte Police Officers Association said in a statement. “It weighs heavy on our hearts, and we are sending our support to their families. We would also like to thank the El Monte community and our surrounding government agencies for the outpouring (of) support we have received in the last few hours.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation, the city said. Detectives are interviewing the suspect’s girlfriend, KABC reported.
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