Two Los Angeles sheriff's deputies are in critical condition after they were shot in Compton 'ambush'

• Two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies are "fighting for their lives" after they were shot in Compton on Saturday night.
• The deputies were sitting in their patrol car when a gunman approached them from the side, opened fire into the vehicle, then fled the scene.
• Surveillance footage of the incident shows a person in dark clothing walking up to the police car before shooting into it and then running away.
• Both deputies — a 24-year-old and a 31-year-old mother — are undergoing surgery. The suspect is still at large.

Two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies are in critical condition after they were shot in an apparent "ambush" on Saturday night, according to the department's official Twitter account.

The deputies, one man and a woman, were sat in their patrol car at 7 pm local time (10 pm ET) in the Compton district, in south Los Angeles, when a gunman approached them from the side, opened fire into the vehicle, and fled the scene.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) said the two deputies — a 24-year-old and a 31-year-old mother — are "both still fighting for their lives."

"One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle," the tweet read. "Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and are in critical condition. They are both currently undergoing surgery. The suspect is still at large.

A surveillance video of the incident shows a person in dark clothing walking up to the police car before shooting into it and then running away.

Watch the clip below:

—LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) September 13, 2020

In a press briefing on Saturday night, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Capt. Kent Wegener said the suspect had acted as if he was going to walk past the car but raised his gun instead and shot multiple times hitting both deputies.

"This is just a somber reminder that this is a dangerous job, and actions and words have consequences. Our job does not get any easier because people do not like law enforcement," Villanueva said. "It pisses me off, it dismays me at the same time. There's no pretty way to say it."

The female deputy is the mother to a six-year-old boy, Villanueva said. had just been sworn in 14 months ago, according to Villanueva. The suspect is still at large.

In another tweet late on Saturday night, the sheriff's department Twitter account said a group of protesters were blocking the entrance and exit to the hospital where the wounded deputies were undergoing surgery.

"To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling "We hope they die" referring to 2 LA Sheriff's ambushed today in #Compton: DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ENTRIES & EXITS TO THE HOSPITAL," the tweet read. "People's lives are at stake when ambulances can't get through."

President Trump responded to the shooting on Sunday morning, tweeting: "Animals that must be hit hard!" alongside a video of the incident.

His son, Donald Trump Jr., also posted his thoughts on Twitter, writing: "Please pray for these two Sheriff Deputies. Their lives matter!!!" with the hashtag #BlueLivesMatter.

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