California police officer shot and killed outside police headquarters ‘was

Los Angeles County authorities say a police officer shot to death in the parking lot of Downey police headquarters was apparently targeted.

Initial reports said the vehicle being pursued was involved in a car-to- auto shooting near the intersection of Gardendale Street and Downey Avenue. Police have not released the two men’s names.

DOWNEY, Calif. (AP) – A police officer in the city of Downey was found shot to death in the parking lot of police headquarters and a hunt is on for at least one suspect, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said Thursday.

Galvez had been with the Downey Police Department for five years and had served as a U.S. Marine for two tours, Downey police Chief Carl Charles said. The police officer was reported to have died of a gunshot wound.

Another Downey police officer who heard the shots followed the suspects’ vehicle to nearby Montebello, where the suspects bailed from their auto.

The suspects fired at Galvez, killing him, he said.

Homicide detectives are reviewing surveillance video of the incident and are trying to determine what led to the shooting, he said.

A Downey Fire Department dispatcher said paramedics were sent to the Downey Police Department station at around 11:30 p.m. yesterday.

Galvez, known around town as “Ricky”, had just gotten off work when he was shot, police said.

The search for a third person was underway near Washington Boulevard and Carob Way as of 5 a.m., police said.

Downey is about 13 miles south of Los Angeles in southeast Los Angeles County.

“Ricky … was a tremendous young man, who loved serving the residents of Downey”, Charles said.