San Luis Obispo, CA – A San Luis Obispo police officer was murdered and a second officer remains hospitalized after a gunman opened fire on them while they were serving a search warrant on Monday.
The incident occurred off of Margarita Avenue near South Higuera Street at an apartment on Camellia Court, the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) said in a series of twitter posts overnight.
The officers were attempting to serve a search warrant shortly before 5:30 p.m. on May 10 when someone opened fire on them, KFSN reported.
Police immediately returned fire.
One officer was killed and a second officer was wounded during the shootout, the City of San Luis Obispo said in a press release.
The suspect was fatally shot by officers and died at the scene, KFSN reported.
The officer wounded officer was transported to a local hospital and was listed in stable condition, according to the SLOPD.
Additional details regarding the shooting and what led up to it have not been released.
Police have not released the names of any of the involved officers or the gunman.
“This is a tragedy beyond measure for all of those who serve and care about our community,” San Luis Obispo City Manager Derek Johnson said in the press release. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family. We are devastated by this loss.”
Victoria Torres, who lives across from the apartment officers were attempting to search, said she heard loud knocking shortly before gunfire erupted, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.
Torres said she looked out her window and spotted a patrol car, so she headed downstairs to look out a different window.
That’s when she saw a man armed with a “big gun” start shooting at police from the door of the nearby apartment, she said.
Torres said she saw officers taking cover behind a patrol vehicle before she ran back to the upstairs area of her apartment to call 911 and hide, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.
Another neighbor, Monica Rochte, said she heard officers knocking on the door of the suspect’s apartment before the shooting.
They warned they would come inside if the suspect didn’t surrender, Rochte said.
She said she then heard a loud bang and yelling, followed by a single gunshot, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.
“He has a gun!” an officer yelled before a volley of gunfire erupted, according to Rochte.
Procession of marked and unmarked police vehicles turns onto S. Higuera Street after shooting earlier this evening.
— Mackenzie Shuman (@MackenzieShuman) May 11, 2021
Two SLO police officers confirmed shot – no official confirmation of their conditions. pic.twitter.com/iIZkPWpyEX
We have changed our profile picture in honor of National Police Week. Sadly, it comes as the San Luis Obispo Police Dept. is mourning the loss of one of their officers who was shot during a warrant service. Prayers for the family of that officer and the other who was wounded. pic.twitter.com/pM4A9BITLT
— Shasta Co. Sheriff (@ShastaSheriff) May 11, 2021
Our prayers are with the family and friends of this officer and the men and women of the San Luis Obispo Police Department. https://t.co/gfOBOAnYhl
— PPDOpsDC (@PuebloPDOpsDC) May 11, 2021
BACK THE BLUE: “Two police officers were shot Monday — one fatally — while serving a warrant in San Luis Obispo, California, according to authorities.” pic.twitter.com/iWM0SpaAj0
— Irving Spud (@IrvingSpud) May 11, 2021
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Sandy Malone
