Video: Two police officers dead, one wounded in California

Police in Palm Springs, California are searching for the man who shot and killed two officers and wounded another as they were attempting to resolve a domestic disturbance. </s> Three police officers were shot on Saturday in the Southern California desert resort town of Palm Springs, but their conditions were not immediately known, police said in a message posted online.

Details about the circumstances of the shooting were not immediately available. Local television news outlet KMIR-TV reported the shooting occurred just after 1 p.m., and that a suspect remained at large, while the three officers were taken to an area hospital. </s> PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Two police officers were fatally shot and another injured Saturday afternoon in an incident involving a family dispute, the Palm Springs police chief said.

Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on a normally quiet residential neighborhood after the shooting, sealing off several blocks and evacuating some residents, police said.

Officers also issued a warning that people inside their homes should stay there, lock their doors and not answer them until further notice.

Police said the shooting occurred after officers arrived at a home following a report of a domestic disturbance.

SWAT officers raced to the scene after the shooting but no one was immediately arrested. Police said they believed no one else was hurt.

Gerardo Barrera told The Desert Sun he was working nearby when he heard gunshots. “I saw a person on the ground,” he said. “Someone kept pumping her chest but she wasn’t moving.”

The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeant was shot and killed in the high desert town of Lancaster.

Sgt. Steve Owen was answering a burglary call when sheriff’s officials say he was shot and wounded by a man who then stood over him and shot him four more times.

A paroled robber has been charged with murder. </s> Describing the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of two police officers in Palm Springs, California, Chief Bryan Reyes said: "The officers, from what I understand, were at the front trying to negotiate with the suspect to just comply. It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire on...guardians of this city."

The Palm Springs Police Department officers fatally shot Saturday have been identified as Jose Gilbert Vega, a 35-year veteran officer working an overtime shift, and Lesley Zerebny, 27, a mother of a 4-month-old child, Police Chief Bryan Reyes said Saturday.

The suspect who fatally shot two police officers in Palm Springs, California, has not been captured, Police Chief Bryan Reyes said Saturday. Police have surrounded a house and "they're going to treat the house as if he's still in it," Reyes said.

Speaking of the two police officers killed on Saturday in Palm Springs, California, Police Chief Bryan Reyes said: "Today Palm Springs lost two brave officers. They go out every day and put their boots on the ground for everybody in this community. They gave it all for you."

Two police officers were killed and a third was wounded Saturday afternoon while responding to a domestic disturbance in Palm Springs, California, Police Chief Bryan Reyes said at a news conference.

Three California police officers were shot Saturday while responding to a domestic disturbance, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

Authorities said they were searching for a suspect but did not identify or describe the alleged perpetrator. No motive was provided.

CNN affiliate KMIR reported the shooting happened around 1 p.m. near the area of Cypress and Del Lago Road.

This is the latest shooting of multiple police officers in the United States.

Palm Springs, a city of about 45,000 residents, is located 100 miles east of Los Angeles. </s> Two officers killed, one injured in Palm Springs shooting: police

Two US police officers were fatally shot and one injured Saturday while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Palm Springs, California, police said.

The shooting occurred after two officers went to a home after receiving a report from a female caller that her adult son was causing a disturbance, police chief Bryan Reyes told journalists.

“The male refused to open the door and threatened to shoot the officers through the closed doors,” Reyes said.

Approximately 10 minutes after they first responded, the two officers called for emergency reinforcement and said that shots had been fired.

“It was a simple family disturbance and (the gunman) elected to open fire,” an emotional Reyes said.

Three officers were wounded in the gunfire and taken to a local hospital, where two of them died.

“Today, Palm Springs lost two brave officers,” Reyes said, his voice trembling. “They go out every day and put their boots on the ground for everybody in this community.

“They gave it all for you.”

Reyes said the third victim was at the hospital but was “alert” and assisting investigators.

The police chief identified the victims as Jose Gilbert Vega, a 35-year old veteran of the department who was due to retire in December, and Lesley Zerebny, a 27-year-old officer who gave birth to a child four months ago.

The Palm Springs police chief said the area where the shooting occurred was still an active scene and the investigation had been turned over to the central homicide unit of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect remains at large and Reyes said police do not know his exact whereabouts, but “it’s still a fluid situation and there’s belief that he still may be in the house.” </s> PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Police chief in Palm Springs, California says 2 officers fatally shot, another wounded trying to resolve family dispute. </s> PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Police: 3 officers shot in Palm Springs, California; their conditions are not known. </s> PALM SPRINGS, Calif.—Two police officers were shot and killed in the Southern California desert town of Palm Springs on Saturday, Oct. 8, after they were called to a family dispute and came under fire as they arrived on the scene, local police said.

A third officer was wounded in the afternoon shooting, Police Chief Bryan Reyes told a news conference. Police closed off nearby blocks as they searched for a suspect on Saturday night.

The officers who were killed were identified as Jose Vega, a 35-year veteran who was due to retire in December, and 27-year-old Lesley Zerebny, who had been an officer for about a year and a half and was the mother of a four-month-old baby.

"I am awake in a nightmare right now," Reyes told reporters.

One witness said the suspect's father told her his son expressed a desire to kill police just moments before the shooting, The Desert Sun newspaper reported.

"He came over and asked for help," Frances Serrano said of the father, who added that his son had mental issues, according to the newspaper.

Dozens of police rushed to the scene in a residential neighborhood of Palm Springs, a normally placid resort community about 100 miles east of Los Angeles.

Police in tactical gear surrounded the home, with an armored assault vehicle stationed in front of the house. It was possible the suspect remained in the house or had escaped the area, Reyes said.

Local media later showed robots being deployed in the area.

Officers went to the home after a female caller said her son was causing a disturbance, Reyes said. The officers were outside trying to negotiate with the suspect when shooting began.

"It was a simple family disturbance, and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of this city," Reyes said.

The wounded officer was alert and "doing well," Reyes added.

A neighbor, Juan Graciano, 67, said he heard angry shouting between a father and son who live at the residence before the father emerged from the home, crossed the street and asked another neighbor to call for help.

Graciano said the other neighbor apparently called police, who came under fire as they arrived at the home, and that some police returned fire. He said he saw one female officer who appeared to be wounded lying on the ground as fellow officers tried to resuscitate her.

Governor Edmund Brown said in a statement that the slain officers died "doing what they do every day — protecting their community. We grieve with the family members, friends and fellow officers coping with this senseless tragedy." </s> Palm Springs, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the deaths of Palm Springs Police Department Officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny:

“Officers Vega and Zerebny were killed today doing what they do every day – protecting their community. We grieve with the family members, friends and fellow officers coping with this senseless tragedy. Anne and I join all Californians in offering our heartfelt condolences.”

Officers Vega and Zerebny were fatally shot today while responding to a family disturbance at a home in Palm Springs. A third officer was also shot and is receiving treatment at a hospital.



 Officer Vega, 63, was a 35-year veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department and was scheduled to retire in two months. He is survived by his wife and eight children.



 Officer Zerebny, 27, served with the Palm Springs Police Department for one and a half years. She is survived by her husband and four-month-old daughter.



 In honor of Officers Vega and Zerebny, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.
A gunman shoots three police officers in Palm Springs, California, leaving two dead and one injured.