A young Baldwin Park policeman who loves the Dodgers and is an avid skier, was killed late Saturday in a shooting that also killed civilians and injured another officer.
Samuel Riveros, 35, was identified as the dead officer, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center but was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to medical examiners' records. The injured officer Anthony Pimentel was released from the hospital on Sunday.
Officer Samuel Riveros died in a gunfight at Baldwin Park on Saturday.
(Baldwin Police Department)
The identity of the male suspect accused of shooting at an officer and civilians shot near the shooting as of Sunday afternoon were shot dead.
Juan Ruvalcaba, 81, lives across the street from where the shooting began Saturday night. He told the Times on Sunday that he initially thought he was listening to firecrackers but then saw his neighbor firing what seemed like a long gun. He said the young man, in his own front yard, seemed to be shooting in different directions in the air and in the nearby streets – but he did not see the man specifically targeting anyone or anything.
He said he still called the man's grandmother, who lived with him and warned her to hide under the bed and not let her grandson inside. Ruvalcaba said to his grandmother before entering his home: “Don't open it, not even open it to him.” He said he could not see any other part of what happened next, but was shaken by the deaths of the two.
“Thank God, I’m still here,” Ruvarkaba said.
At Sunday's press conference, Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. López fought back. “It's very tragic to have to be addressed,” he said.
Lopez said Riverros likes to go to the Dodgers and watch the team play at different stadiums.
“Officer Riverros serves others, a testament to his unwavering dedication and selfless courage,” the sheriff's department wrote in a statement. “His loss is deeply felt by his loss, not only his family and colleagues, but also by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement families. The death of innocent civilians only deepens this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers pray to the victim's loved ones as their loved ones endure incredible sorrow.”
He has been an official with the Baldwin Park Police Department since 2016, officials said.
According to LinkedIn profiles matching Riveros information, he became a law enforcement officer after studying UC Irvine's criminology, law and society. There, he played hockey in Orange County and coached youth in Orange County as part of the criminological outreach program.
His mother and sister survived.
“When the danger broke out last night and called for help, it was our Baldwin Park Police who responded without hesitation, reflecting the sincerest condolences of Baldwin Park Mayor Alejandra Avila, on behalf of our council and the City Hall staff, to extend our sincerest condolences to the victims, our Baldwin Park Police Department community and the families of those affected by this violence.” Last night was a tragic night for our community. ”
Officials said Baldwin Park police initially responded to a call around 7:12 p.m. about a person shooting a possible body on a rifle and a sidewalk near 4200 Filhurst Ave. Sheriff Robert Luna said when they arrived in the area they were “met by gunfire”. In the subsequent gunfight, two officers were shot dead.
The injured officer was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center-aerial air and one was transported on the ground.
According to Baldwin Park officials, officers at the scene also found that the civilian died in the leading position of the house, according to Baldwin Park officials. Sheriff's officials said he was also taken to the hospital but died from injuries.
The suspect was also injured but was listed as stable on Sunday afternoon. Luna said investigators have retried their weapons.
Luna said it was not clear how many guns were fired. His agency is leading an investigation into the shooting.
On Sunday morning, the area around 13500 Palm Avenue remained an active crime scene. Emergency vehicles and investigators flooded the area and the entire neighborhood remained blocked.
But in the afternoon, the street reopened. Several residents were getting rid of blood from several places on the street, sidewalks and nearby lawns in the house. The damage to the bullet holes was noticeable in the house and the police cruiser’s windows.
Joe Rya, who lives about a block from where the shooting occurred, said he was still shocked.
“You’d hear bullets flying,” Ria recalled. “The camera is putting things out, I tell the kids to come down.”
He said he had lived nearby for 34 years and thought it was relatively quiet, although he said they would occasionally hear gunfire. Most Latino neighborhoods consist of moderate single-family homes, with most houses fenced around them.
When law enforcement conducted a shooting scene investigation at Baldwin Park on Sunday, the evidence marked the law on the ground.
(Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times)
According to video footage of The Times review, there are 11 photos on Palm Avenue starting at 7:16 p.m. Saturday.
A homeowner's ring camera captured the shooting and declined to be named, saying he initially believed the gunshots were fireworks. It was not until later that he looked outside and saw police cars flooding the streets.
He also considered the community usually “very calm,” he said in the striker Saturday night, blocking the next block from police videotapes. He said he had lived on Palm Avenue for nine years until Saturday.
According to another video reviewed by the Times, six photos were opened next to 7:26 pm when the helicopter circled overhead, at the corner of Palm and Filhurst Avenue.
By 9 p.m. Saturday, multiple law enforcement agencies had landed nearby and were facing the doorway in the area. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and police cars from the West Covina and Elmont Police Department were stationed nearby.
“I express my sincerest condolences to family, friends, colleagues and community members who shot at Baldwin Park yesterday,” Congresswoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) said in a statement. “I also want to express my condolences to the fallen officer and his family. Thank you for your courage and your profound and humble decision to protect and serve the people of Baldwin Park, and you may comfort you easily.”
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell also expressed condolences to the community on behalf of his agency.
“This heartbreaking loss is a solemn reminder of the measures that risk officials should take every day when protecting their communities,” MacDonald said in a statement. “Our hearts join Baldwin Park PD to mourn a beloved colleague and pray for the injured colleague.”
Times employee photographers Luke Johnson and Rebecca Ellis contributed to the report.
