The officer was found unconscious in his patrol car in Palmdale, a city near Los Angeles. It was unclear whether there was more than one suspect or what the motive was.

A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was "ambushed" and killed in his patrol car by an unknown person Saturday. Authorities suspect the deputy was targeted simply because he was in uniform.

Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, a 30-year-old field training officer, was shot Saturday just outside the Palmdale Sheriff's Station at the corner of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q.

Clinkunbroomer died after being taken to an area hospital, the Associated Press reported. “Despite the medical staff’s best efforts to save our deputy’s life, regrettably he succumbed to his injuries,” sheriff Robert Luna said, according to the AP.

Clinkunbroomer became engaged only four days before he was slain. His survivors include his betrothed, his parents and his grandparents.

A surveillance camera reportedly captured video of the shooting.

NBC News, citing law enforcement sources, said that video shows someone driving a car alongside Clinkunbroomer’s patrol cruiser and then speeding away. The fleeing car is a focus for authorities, NBC News reported.

Though Luna said he hadn’t ruled out any potential motives, he described fearing that the shooting may have been a “targeted attack” just because Clinkunbroomer “was in uniform”.

More than 80 police officers have been killed on duty or died from work-related injuries in 2023, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. Nearly 40 died from gunfire.

Clinkunbroomer was a third-generation law enforcement officer, following in the footstep of his grandfather and father, the AP reported.

NBC News said Clinkunbroomer had worked as a field training officer for the last year and a half.

Luna said the position Clinkunbroomer had was reserved for the “best of the best” at his agency.

“He embodied the values of bravery … selflessness, and an absolute commitment to justice,” Luna said of Clinkunbroomer. “Our deputy was a devoted family member and a shared cherished member of our community who was cowardly shot while working tirelessly to serve our community this evening.”