Just days after getting engaged, Los Angeles County Sheriff鈥檚 Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer said goodbye to his fianc茅e for the last time.
鈥淚 remember that day too, he kissed me goodbye, told me he loved me and I said, 鈥業鈥檒l see you later,鈥欌�� Brittany Lindsey said in a 鈥淕ood Morning America鈥� interview that aired Wednesday. But he 鈥渘ever came home.鈥�
The couple had been engaged for four days.
鈥淚t was the happiest I鈥檇 ever seen him 鈥� and myself,鈥� Lindsey said.
Officials say the 30-year-old deputy was fatally shot on Sept. 16 as he sat in a patrol car in Palmdale.
Kevin Cataneo Salazar, 29, was charged in the with one count of murder, plus special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, murder committed by lying in wait, murder committed by firing from a car and personal use of a firearm. His attorney of not guilty and a dual plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on his behalf last week.
District Attorney George Gasc贸n has said prosecutors owe it to the slain deputy鈥檚 family to secure a conviction and a sentence of life.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to do everything in our power to make sure the defendant never gets out of prison,鈥� Gasc贸n said.
Gasc贸n was elected in 2020 on a reform platform and pledged not to seek the death penalty in any cases.
鈥淚f I thought that seeking the death penalty was going to bring Ryan back to us, I would seek it without any reservation,鈥� he said in a recent news conference. 鈥淏ut it won鈥檛.鈥�
California has not executed anyone since 2006. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a moratorium on executions in 2019 and dismantled the prison鈥檚 gas chamber, and in 2022 he announced plans to sentenced to death to other prisons.
The deputy鈥檚 mother, Kim Clinkunbroomer, said in the interview that she was surprised that prosecutors weren鈥檛 pursuing the death penalty.
鈥淟ife in prison? I鈥檓 still paying for that then, as a parent, as a taxpayer. It just seems that the district attorney wants to spare a life, when he didn鈥檛 spare my son鈥檚 life,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e executed my son. He assassinated my son. He assassinated her fiance. To me, we shouldn鈥檛 even be going to court.鈥�
Ryan Clinkunbroomer's family worked in law enforcement for generations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all he ever wanted to do, was wear that badge with honor," Kim Clinkunbroomer said. 鈥淗e did 鈥檛il the day he died.鈥�
The Associated Press
