Protesters outside hospital chant ‘we hope they die’ after two LA cops ambushed and shot in the head

After two LA cops were shot in the head sitting in their patrol car, protesters chanted “we hope they die” outside the hospital they were taken to.

Two Los Angeles police officers were ambushed and shot in the head while sitting in their patrol car in Compton on Saturday night.

Shocking security camera video released by the LA County Sheriff’s Department shows a man walking up to the parked car and repeatedly shooting into the passenger window, critically injuring the 24-year-old male and 31-year-old female Transit Services Bureau officers outside the Willowbrook Metro station.

The suspect got off a bus at the station before carrying out the attack. He then fled on foot.

The two deputies were able to radio for assistance after they were shot and were rushed to hospital.

“At this point we have a very, very generic description of a dark-skinned male and that came from one of the victims,” Captain Kent Wegener told a news conference.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the female deputy was a mother of a six-year-old son. Both had only been sworn into the department 14 months ago.

“Every week across the nation someone is losing their life in the line of duty – this is just another grim reminder of that,” he said.

“This is just a sombre 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. It p**ses me off, it dismays me at the same time. There’s no pretty way to say it.”

The attack came hours after hundreds of Black Lives Matter demonstrators gathered again to protest the death of Dijon Kizzee, who was shot by police in an altercation on August 31.

After the two deputies were shot on Saturday night, protesters gathered outside the Los Angeles hospital where they were undergoing surgery, with some chanting “we hope they die”, according to police.

NEW: Here is a thread of videos from protesters who recorded themselves going to the hospital where the ambushed LASD deputies are being treated and shouting "we hope that bitch dies", "oink, oink" and "y'all gonna die one by one." https://t.co/EjwWVXdL5V @FOXLA

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) September 13, 2020

Video posted to social media also showed protesters yelling “oink, oink”.

Another video from the scene of the shooting earlier showed a bystander laughing at the attack.

“N***a just aired the police out!” he says in an Instagram story. “N***a, they just aired the police out n***a! Them n***as just got aired out, that’s crazy! Damn. It’s going down in Compton.”

Here’s the reaction of an eyewitness to the ambush of two Deputies shot in the head in #Compton. The victims are in the background. No one is going to help them. Vote like your life depends on it. #BlueLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/tE8NH5YZvm

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 13, 2020

The LA County Sheriff’s Department slammed the protesters outside the hospital, saying “people’s lives are at stake when ambulances can’t get through”.

A female journalist was also arrested at the scene. Police said a male protester had refused to comply after they declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order.

As they arrested him, “a struggle ensued at which time a female adult ran towards the deputies, ignored repeated commands to stay back as they struggled with the male and interfered with the arrest”.

After my phone drops, it keeps recording and it captures two deputies damaging my phone by kicking and stepping on it. I can hear myself in the background shouting: “You guys are hurting me” and “Stop it.” It feels very out-of-body to play this back. pic.twitter.com/8o1kdjqlA9

— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) September 13, 2020

“The female adult, who was later identified as a member of the press, did not identify herself as press and later admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person,” police said.

The reporter was identified as Josie Huang from LAist. She was released early on Sunday, saying that she had seen the LA County Sheriff’s Department’s tweets “and have thoughts and videos to share soon after a little rest”.

US President Donald Trump called for the death penalty for the shooter if the deputies do not survive. “If they die, fast trial death penalty for the killer. Only way to stop this!” he tweeted.

If they die, fast trial death penalty for the killer. Only way to stop this! https://t.co/K3sKh28GjX

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2020

In a follow-up tweet commenting on the video of the shooting, he said, “Animals that must be hit hard!”

The FBI is assisting in the investigation. There have not been any arrests and the LA Times reports it is not clear if any suspects have even been identified.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore asked everyone to “pray for these two guardians to survive”.

“I recognise and acknowledge we live in troubled times,” he said on Twitter. “But we must as a community work thru our differences while loudly and resoundly condemn violence. Blessed are the Peacemakers.”