US News
Jury convicts Kevin Salazar in 2023 ambush murder of LA County Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer
A California jury found Kevin Salazar guilty of first-degree murder, with the case moving to a sanity phase to determine whether he serves time in prison or a mental hospital.
The short version
- A jury convicted 32-year-old Kevin Salazar of first-degree murder for the September 2023 ambush shooting of Los Angeles County Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer.
- Jurors found true special circumstance allegations, including lying in wait and killing a peace officer, following 2.5 hours of deliberation.
- The court will now enter a sanity phase to resolve an insanity defense and decide whether Salazar is sent to prison or a state mental facility.
Key facts
- Kevin Salazar was found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting Los Angeles County Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer in the head while Clinkunbroomer was stopped at a red light in his patrol vehicle on Sept. 16, 2023.[Fox News]
- Jurors deliberated for 2.5 hours following a week-long trial before delivering the verdict.[Fox News]
- Salazar was convicted of special circumstance allegations including murder of a peace officer, lying in wait, and firing from a vehicle.[Fox News]
- Authorities arrested Salazar two days after the shooting following a standoff at his family's residence in Palmdale.[Fox News]
- The trial moves next to a sanity-deciding phase to resolve Salazar's insanity defense, which will determine whether he is placed in prison or a state mental facility.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- According to the Clinkunbroomer family's attorney, no clear motive for the attack has been established.[Fox News]