Hero cops Michael Parades and Joseph Santana killed in horror motel shootout after confronting stabbing suspect in LA
TWO police officers have been killed in a motel shootout while responding to a stabbing incident.
Hero cops Michael Parades and Joseph Santana were gunned down on Tuesday afternoon while investigating a possible stabbing at the Siesta Inn motel in the El Monte neighborhood in Los Angeles.
"It is with heavy hearts that the City of El Monte and the El Monte Police Department announce the passing of Corporal Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana," a news release said.
El Monte PD said both Paredes and Santana were raised in that city "and had a strong connection to the community they served."
Capt. Andrew Meyer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau said that when the cops arrived at the motel, they confronted the suspect, identified as Justin Flores, 35, in a motel room and fired their weapons.
Sources told The that Flores shot through the door after the officers knocked.
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Flores reportedly ran out of the room and into a parking lot, where the officer exchanged gunfire again.
The suspect was hit by gunfire and died at the scene.
Flores reportedly followed his wife, Diana Flores, to the hotel, where she booked a room to escape him after he stabbed her a day earlier, reported.
Three officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, sources told the LA Times. However, it was Paredes and Santana who were struck.
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The officers were taken to L.A. County-USC Medical Center, where they died.
Diana said she warned the officers that her husband was not in the right state of mind and had a gun.
“I love my husband to death but … this wasn’t my husband. This was a monster,” Diana told NBC.
“I didn’t want anyone to get hurt in this. I am so deeply sorry. They didn’t deserve that, or their families. They really didn’t. They were trying to help me.”
She said she fled the room as the two cops arrived and soon heard gunshots, so she ran.
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Paredes was a 22-year veteran on the force, beginning his law enforcement in July 2000, El Monte PD revealed.
He is survived by his wife, daughter and son.
Santana was in his first year with the EMPD after serving nearly three years as a sheriff's deputy in San Bernardino County.
Santana is survived by his wife, daughter and twin boys.
El Monte interim police chief Ben Lowry described the officers as "heroes" who were "loved".
Lowry said the cops were "murdered by a coward," reported.
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El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona said: "Heartbroken doesn't begin to express the loss that we feel.
"They were acting as the first line of defense for community members when they were essentially ambushed while trying to keep the family safe."