Holly MatkinDowney, CA – An off-duty Monterey Park police officer was gunned down in the parking lot of a bustling shopping center gym on Monday afternoon.
The incident occurred outside the Downey Landing mall located at 12070 Lakewood Boulevard at approximately 3:25 p.m. on Aug. 8, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Downey police were called to the scene for a report of gunfire and located a man who had been shot.
Investigators said it appeared the victim was inside or near a black Dodge Charger when the attack occurred, KABC reported.
The wounded victim was provided with first aid, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Detectives were able to identify the victim as an off-duty officer of the Monterey Park Police Department,” the Downey Police Department (DPD) said. “The victim’s name is not being released at this time.”
A motive for the attack and specific circumstances regarding what transpired in the parking lot remained under investigation on Monday night, KABC reported.
The number of possible suspects and their identities were not released.
Investigators said during a press conference that they are following up on multiple leads, KABC reported.
The investigation continues into the night after an off duty @MontereyParkPD officer is shot & killed near his car outside a #Downey gym. Detectives say they are following active leads as they search for the suspect or suspects.
Latest at 11pm @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/Vax71nqPvN— Leanne Suter (@abc7leanne) August 9, 2022
“Right now, our main focus is making sure that the person that did this is brought to justice, and that the investigation is allowed to take place in the way it needs to take place, and that we support the family in every way, shape and form we can,” Monterey Park Police Department (MPPD) Chief Kelly Gordon said.
“We’re a family, and that’s the bottom line,” Chief Gordon continued. “We have worked hard to build a culture within our department that we take care of each other. This is a tragedy. This is a tragedy for his family, but this is a tragedy for the Monterey Park Police Department as well.”
A procession of law enforcement vehicles escorted the slain officer’s body from the mall parking lot to the coroner’s office shortly before 11 p.m., KABC reported.
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Sandy Malone