Police Officer Killed and Another Wounded in Baldwin Park Shoot-Out: ‘It Sounded Like Fireworks'

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4 days ago

A police officer was fatally shot and another was injured during a shoot-out in Baldwin Park, Calif., on Saturday, May 31
While responding to a call of an individual "shooting rounds with a rifle," the officers found one person dead at the scene
The suspect is in custody following the shooting, Sheriff Robert Luna said in a press conferenceA Baldwin Park police officer has died and another is wounded following a shooting in Los Angeles.
At 7:12 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 31, officers responded to a call of someone 'shooting rounds with a rifle' and a person down at the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue in Baldwin Park, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said at a press conference, per KCAL News .
'The suspect engaged the officers when they arrived,' Sheriff Robert Luna said, according to the outlet. 'One officer was struck and transported [to the hospital] and unfortunately, he is deceased. After those shots were fired … other officers immediately went to their assistance [resulting in an] officer-involved shooting.'
A second officer was shot and transported to a hospital in stable condition, Luna said. Another victim, believed to be an adult male, was found deceased with apparent gunshot wounds when police arrived at the scene.
The suspect, who was confirmed by police to be an adult male, was also struck by gunfire and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. He is now in custody, Luna said during the press conference, per KCAL News.
The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been released at this time amid an investigation into the cause of the incident.
According to Ring camera footage obtained by The Los Angeles Times, eleven shots were heard at 7:16 p.m. on Palm Avenue. In a second video reviewed by the outlet, an additional six shots were fired 10 minutes later 'near the corner of Palm and Filhurst Avenue as helicopters circled overhead.'
"It sounded like fireworks … just going off constantly back and forth … but then you hear patrol cars from everywhere, coming in, swarming. It was crazy," a witness told ABC 7 Eyewitness News.
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The L.A. County Sheriff's Department, West Covina and El Monte police departments all responded to the incident, according to the L.A. Times.
"One of our officers was murdered tonight. He answered a call of duty, of shots fired, to protect our residents in Baldwin Park," Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. López said during the press conference.
Chief López described his fallen officer as 'an amazing man' and an avid snowboarder and Dodger fan. 'It's extremely tragic to have to deal with this,' he added.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Baldwin Park police for further comment.
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