A jury convicts Kevin Salazar of first-degree murder in the 2023 ambush shooting of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at a Palmdale stoplight.
Jury deliberated just two hours before finding Kevin Salazar guilty of killing Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer
PALMDALE, Calif. — A man who pulled up next to a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy in Palmdale and shot him in broad daylight nearly three years ago was convicted Monday of first-degree murder.
The jury found Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, 32, guilty of intentionally killing 30-year-old Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer. Jurors also found Salazar guilty of all the special circumstances attached to the murder charge, including murder of a peace officer, lying in wait, and firing from a vehicle, along with certain weapons violations.
Clinkunbroomer was 30 years old and had just gotten engaged four days before his death. He was on duty when he was found shot and unconscious in his patrol vehicle by a citizen.
In his closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Michael Blake told the jury that Salazar made "a clear and deliberate decision to kill" Clinkunbroomer in a "surprise attack."
Salazar had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Jurors will return Wednesday for the next phase of the trial, when they will determine if he was sane at the time of the crime.
