2 deputies shot in apparent ambush in Compton, CA
Two officers shot in the head in ambush at Compton train station.
A Southern California city councilman plans to motion for the discipline or dismissal of a city manager over a social media post that said "chickens come home to roost" in the wake of the ambush shooting of two Los Angeles County sheriff deputies over the weekend.
Lynwood Councilman Salvador Alatorre told Fox News that he will make the motion regarding the Instagram post by City Manager Jose Ometeotl during Tuesday's special meeting. Alatorre said Ometeotl has previously sent a letter using a city letterhead to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to support the defunding of police.
"For some reason, he decided to go beyond his authority, Alatorre said of the social media post. "He's not an elected official. He represents the city of Lynwood 24/7. He cannot make statements while he's employed by our city, especially when he jeopardizes public safety.
"Now what's going to happen? We have the top administrator against public safety, then what do they expect from the rest of us," he added.
The city issued a response Sunday over the post, which has been heavily criticized as the deputies remain hospitalized.
“There have been comments made today (Sunday) by our City Manager on his personal social media that are his personal opinions and don’t reflect the position of the Lynwood City Council,” a city-issued statement read.
Ometeotl took to his private Instagram account to call any shooting a “wholly unacceptable occurrence in society.” But he said Compton – the location where the deputies were shot – has been “plagued by deputy gangs that inflict fear and violence in the community,” according to Los Angeles-based Fox 11 reporter Bill Melugin. The reporter said that Ometeotl made his account private after the post.
Ometeotl did not respond to an email or calls from Fox News on Monday Monday. Lynwood borders Compton to the south.
The shooting, which was caught on CCTV, occurred near a Metro rail station and the victims were a 31-year-old female deputy and 24-year-old male deputy. It sparked a massive manhunt and a $100,000 reward.
Moments after the shooting, the passenger door opens and a deputy stumbles out, hand on head, according to the newspaper. The driver's side door opens soon after. They underwent surgery on Saturday evening and are expected to survive.
“They performed in an admirable fashion in spite of grave adversity,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Sunday during a conversation with local religious leaders. “God bless them, it looks like they’re going to be able to recover.”
He said the wounded female deputy was able to get help for the male deputy by calling in on the police radio despite having been shot.
“They’ve survived the worst,” he added.
The City of Lynwood, which is just outside Compton, issued a statement that appeared to be in response to Ometeotl’s post, that offered prayers to the deputies and their families.
“There have been comments made today (Sunday) by our City Manager on his personal social media that are his personal opinions and don’t reflect the position of the Lynwood City Council,” the statement read.
The video sparked a reaction from President Trump who responded on Twitter, “Animals that must be hit hard!”
“This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice,” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted. “Violence of any kind is wrong; those who commit it should be caught and punished.”
Melugin later posted on Twitter a graphic photo of the officers moments after the shooting after getting permission from the LASD and the officers' families.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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