Two El Monte Police Officers Killed in Ambush

On Tuesday, 2 El Monte Police Officers were killed in an ambush when responding to a possible stabbing at a motel in El Monte, California. The officers were Corp. Michael Paredes, and Officer Joseph Santana. Sheriff’s department Capt. Andrew Meyer told CNN that, when the officers arrived, “they confronted the suspect (Justin Flores), and an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect fled the hotel room into the parking lot and a second officer-involved shooting occurred.”. After the shootings, both officers were hit, as well as the suspect.

Both officers were rushed to LAC + USC Medical Center, but they were later pronounced dead due to their gunshot injuries. People all around El Monte are heavily mourning the loss of the officers. Both Paredes and Santana were loved members of the community, having “deep neighborhood ties”. Both men were fathers and husbands, and were dedicated to the lives of their families and community. interim Police Chief Ben Lowry, told CNN that, “These two men were loved. They were good men. They were heroes.”.