On Sunday evening, a little more than a week since Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was killed, a crowd more than 300 strong gathered in Santa Clarita’s Marketplace Park to remember his life and mourn his untimely passing.
Clinkunbroomer, 30, was fatally shot inside his patrol vehicle just steps from the Palmdale Sheriff Station on Saturday, Sept. 16. Kevin Salazar, 29, was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty on grounds of insanity on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Salazar’s family has said that he suffers from schizophrenia.
Clinkunbroomer’s untimely death has shaken both the community of Palmdale, where he worked, and of Santa Clarita, where he spent many of his formative years.
“Tonight we want to focus on the life that he lived for those that he loved and for the men and women in uniform, who were tragically reminded, once again, of the sacrifices they make every single day to protect our communities,” said Palmdale Mayor Jason Gibbs. “To his family, his fiancee, his friends and his law enforcement colleagues we stand with you, united in grief for his loss and love for his memory.
Clinkunbroomer was a devoted deputy and a fourth-generation member of the L.A. County Sheriffs Department.
“Ryan will never be forgotten; He will be remembered as our hero,” said L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna. “Just like his father, grandfather and great grandfather and his mother who served with us.”
Luna appeared at once deep in grief and resolute in anger, vowing to seek justice for Clinkunbroomer and his family.
“We’re going to give it our all at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to make sure that the District Attorney’s Office does everything they can to make sure the individual, the coward, that committed this act serves nothing less than the absolute maximum punishment offered by the State of California,” he said.
The vigil began with the setting of the sun and the raising of an American flag as…
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