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DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES () — A man convicted of first-degree murder in the 2023 ambush shooting of Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer in Palmdale was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, 32, was convicted Aug. 24 for the Sept. 16, 2023, killing of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, a fourth-generation member of the sheriff’s department. Clinkunbroomer — who had become engaged to be married four days before he was killed — was shot in the back of the head while in a marked patrol SUV near the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station and was rushed to Antelope Valley Medical Center in grave condition. He was pronounced dead that night.
“His life did matter,” Kim Clinkunbroomer, speaking in court on Thursday, said of her son. “Ryan did matter. His death matters and we will carry his memory for the rest of ours. I will never stop being his mother. I will never stop grieving my son, who should be here. I will never stop loving him.”
The jurors ruled that Salazar intentionally killed Clinkunbroomer, adding that the shooter knew and should have known the deputy was peace officer.
Salazar was charged in the Sept. 16, 2023, shooting of Clinkunbroomer, who was attacked in broad daylight while he was stopped at a red light near the sheriff’s station.
Opening statements began in the trial of a man accused of shooting and killing a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in broad daylight nearly three years ago in Palmdale.
The murder charge included the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, lying in wait and firing from a vehicle, along with allegations that he personally used and discharged a .22-caliber revolver.
Salazar was found guilty of each of the special circumstance allegations.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, said the evidence presented significant challenges for the defense.
“It’s very difficult for the defense to prove that the defendant did not know this was a police officer,” he said. “It was broad daylight. The victim was in his vehicle in a marked police car. There was some admissions after the fact that the defendant was looking for a police officer to shoot and was playing hype music.”
The Palmdale resident previously entered a dual plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with the killing.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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