[symple_googlemap title=”” location=”100 block of San Marino Avenue, San Gabriel, CA” height=”300″ zoom=”13″]
A Pomona police SWAT officer was shot while helping to serve a warrant in San Gabriel Tuesday and remained hospitalized in “extremely critical condition,” and the alleged shooter was arrested.
Officer Shaun Diamond, 45, was shot in the back of the head around 4 a.m. while helping to serve a warrant in the 100 block of San Marino Avenue as part of a multi-agency, multi-location operation targeting motorcycle gangs, according to sheriff’s department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida.
Sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Hernandez said Diamond was one of several officers trying to open the outer door of the home when “the interior door opened and he was met with gunfire.”
Hernandez said one shot was fired from a shotgun, apparently striking Diamond in the back of the head, even though the officer was wearing a Kevlar helmet. Other officers and the scene did not return fire.
“The officers at this point didn’t have a clear shot at the suspect,” he said. “The suspect, we’re being told, laid on the ground and put the firearm to his side. Also the (suspect’s) father was in the way and at that point it became a rescue operation to get the officer some medical attention. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.”
The suspect was identified as David Martinez, 36, of San Gabriel.
Martinez’s father was also injured when the shot was fired. Hernandez said the man was struck in the left arm above the elbow.
Martinez was booked on suspicion of attempted murder on a peace officer and was being held on a $4 million bail. Sheriff’s officials said Martinez has a criminal history that includes assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.
Diamond, a 16-year law enforcement veteran, was working as part of a task force involving Pomona and Montebello police and sheriff’s deputies.
Pomona police Chief Paul Capraro said Diamond begane his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department, then joined the Pomona department in 2006. He joined the SWAT team in 2008.
“He has proudly served our city during dozens of SWAT operations,” Capraro said. “One of Shaun’s passions is to help train our officers as a field training officer. He currently works our downtown district enforcement team, providing services exclusively to the businesses and residents in the city’s downtown area. In addition to his service in the field he has contributed greatly to many of the department’s community outreach efforts, which include canine demonstrations, Special Olympics events and SWAT demonstrations for local school kids.”
Diamond was hospitalized at Huntington Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
“He’s currently surrounded by his family and many members of the Pomona Police Department,” Capraro said.
—City News Service