A joint statement from the City, the Police Department and the El Monte Police Officers Association was released that reads:
“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. 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 support we have received in the last few hours.”
A suspect in the shooting, an unidentified man, was also killed during the exchange of gunfire, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
According to KTLA News, El Monte police captain Ben Lowry, the Department’s acting chief, described the two officers as “heroes” during a press conference Tuesday night and said the two made the “ultimate sacrifice.”
“Today they were murdered by a coward,” Lowry said.
A procession took place on the 10 Freeway with dozens of law enforcement vehicles from across the Southland driving from El Monte to Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center where the officers were pronounced deceased. The fallen officers were then due to be transported to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office near the hospital, KTLA News reported.
The shooting is under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department.