The search is on for a gunman after a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, identified as Samuel Aispuro, was shot in the back while waiting at a traffic light on Monday afternoon, authorities said. The incident occurred near the intersection of Barranca Street and North Garvey Avenue in West Covina, just north of the 10 Freeway, as per KABC. The deputy, who has been on the force for nearly 20 years and was in full uniform, managed to radio in the shooting and provide a description of a suspect vehicle, a white sedan with tinted windows last seen heading westbound on the 10 Freeway from Barranca.
Deputy Aispuro, based out of Century station and married with two young children, was rushed to Pomona Valley Hospital and is listed in stable condition thanks to his bulletproof vest which likely prevented more serious injury; the round did not penetrate the vest, and examination confirmed that he was struck once. There was no indication of prior interactions with any suspect before the shooting, which has left the community and local authorities on edge as the gunman remains at large officials from the LA County Sheriff's Department detained several persons of interest near Mangate Avenue in Valinda but were in the process of releasing them, citing that they may not be directly involved in the incident.
In the wake of the shooting, Sheriff Robert Luna stressed the urgency of the situation stating, "Right now, there is somebody out there armed with a firearm who shot one of our deputies in the back, and if he's willing to do that, I'm sure he's willing to shoot at anybody else," as he conveyed during a press conference, a detail documented by CBS News. Echoing the urgency, LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn highlighted the danger that officers face daily and the need to bring the assailant to justice.
Authorities are appealing to the public for any information on the incident and have encouraged potential witnesses to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau. The Homicide Bureau is working closely with the West Covina Police Department in the investigation; anyone with knowledge of the event or the whereabouts of the white sedan can submit anonymous tips through LA Crime Stoppers, ensuring that the community's effort is concerted in rooting out such a blatant disregard for law enforcement and public safety. The intersection where the shooting took place remained closed as law enforcement conducted their investigation, and officials have vowed to "take care of the family; that's our priority," as stated by Sheriff Luna in a statement on social media.
