Man found guilty of murder for 2023 shooting death of LA County sheriff's deputy

Los Angeles jurors have found a 32-year-old Palmdale man guilty of murder for shooting and killing Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer in 2023. 

Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed, ambush-style, just after leaving the Palmdale station on Sept. 16 as he sat and waited at a red light in his work vehicle. The 30-year-old was found slumped over the wheel of his patrol vehicle.

"He was a field training officer for one and a half years. Not just anybody becomes a field training officer. It is usually the best of the best," Sheriff Luna said shortly after his death.    

 A day and a half after the shooting, 29-year-old Palmdale resident Kevin Salazar was arrested and later charged with murder. He entered dual pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.

Jurors deliberated for about 2 and a half hours before finding Salazar guilty of first-degree murder and finding true the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, lying in wait, and firing from a vehicle.  

Salazar's family claims he has a long history of mental illness and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said the trial now moves into the sanity phase. Salazar could face life in prison if he is found sane. If he is found legally insane at the time of the killing, he would be confined to a state hospital rather than prison.

Clinkunbroomer had gotten engaged four days before he was killed.