California police officer killed, another hospitalized in L.A.-area shooting

One suspect is in custody after a shooting in Baldwin Park, California, left a police officer dead and another hospitalized Saturday night, officials from the Baldwin Park Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Officers responded to a call of gunshots and an individual down shortly after 7 p.m. at the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue, officials said. The call indicated someone was shooting with a rifle.

A second victim, an unidentified adult male, was found dead at the scene of what officials are calling a “double murder.” Authorities believe they have recovered the weapon.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is taking the primary lead in the investigation, Sheriff Robert Luna said.

Luna said an adult male suspect is believed to be the person behind the shootings of both the officer and the victim found at the scene. He is believed to have fired at officers first and was then struck by gunfire, the sheriff added. The unidentified suspect was later transported to the hospital in stable condition, officials said.

“Our officer was an amazing man,” Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez said at a news conference early Sunday morning. Officials said the name of the officer would not yet be released, as they were not able to notify all family members at the time of the press conference.

Lopez said the fallen officer was an avid snowboarder and fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, traveling to different stadiums across the country to see watch the team play.

The other officer who responded to the scene was hospitalized and is in stable condition.