PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Oct. 8, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Three police officers were shot Saturday afternoon in Palm Springs, and a manhunt is underway for a lone shooter.
The officers were transported to a nearby hospital, and two of the officers have died, according to an article from The Desert Sun.
According to The Desert Sun, Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said the slain officers were Lesley Zerebny, the mother of a 4-month-old baby, and Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega, a 35-year veteran who was due to retire in December and had chosen to work overtime on Saturday.
The name of the wounded officer was not given, nor was an update on his condition available.
The officers were at the door of a house when the shooting began, Reyes said.
“It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire,” Reyes said, according to The Desert Sun article.
Dozens of law enforcement agents are involved in the search, and residents in the area of Cypress and Del Lago roads have been asked to stay indoors.
Witnesses told reporters they heard between 10 and 20 gunshots, possibly from a machine gun.
According to unconfirmed reports from a neighbor, a father called the police about his son, who was armed, reportedly has mental problems, and wanted to shoot police, according to The Desert Sun article.
So far, no motive for the shooting has been given.
On Saturday afternoon, the Palm Springs Police Officers’ Association posted on its Facebook page: “We ask that you hold these officers families and our department in prayer.”
