Calif. SWAT officer killed in search warrant shooting

SAN GABRIEL, Calif. -- A SWAT officer died early Wednesday morning, hours after he was shot Tuesday while serving a search warrant in San Gabriel, Calif, reports CBS Los Angeles.

Officer Shaun Diamond, 45, was shot in the back of the head, the Pomona Police Department said. Diamond was one of several officers trying to open the outer door of a home when "the interior door opened and he was met with gunfire."

The shooting occurred while officers were serving a search warrant that stemmed from a larger investigation involving outlawed motorcycle gangs, according to police.

Preliminary information indicated that officers did not return gunfire, according to L.A. County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Nicole Nishida.

"The officers at this point didn't have a clear shot at the suspect," he said. "The suspect, we're being told, laid on the ground and put the firearm to his side. Also the (suspect's) father was in the way and at that point it became a rescue operation to get the officer some medical attention. The suspect was taken into custody without incident."

The suspect was identified as David Martinez, 36, of San Gabriel.

Martinez's father was also injured when the shot was fired. Hernandez said the older man was struck in the left arm above the elbow.

Martinez was arrested without incident. He faces charges of murdering a peace officer. Sheriff's officials said Martinez has a criminal history that includes assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.

Diamond began his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department, then joined the Pomona department in 2006, Pomona police Chief Paul Capraro said. Diamond joined the SWAT team in 2008.

"He's a top notch guy -- a great sense of humor and just a wonderful human being," Lt. Mike Keltner said Tuesday.

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