Yesterday, September 20, in a Lancaster courtroom, 29-year-old Kevin Salazar entered a dual plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. He was arrested Monday in the deadly shooting of 30-year-old Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at a Palmdale stoplight as reported by Hoodline.
Deputy Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed at a Palmdale stoplight on September 16, as he left his station in uniform and in a marked patrol car, as per NBC Los Angeles.
According to Salazar's family, he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had been struggling with his mental health for at least five years, as mentioned by Hoodline. When not on medication, Salazar exhibited aggressive and self-harming behavior, including suicide attempts. His mother, Marle Salazar, had previously sought assistance from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department during her son's mental health crises, but reportedly, no help was provided.
Deputy Clinkunbroomer's fiancée, Brittany Lindsey, spoke emotionally at a news conference about her te fiancé, saying, "Ryan, I miss you, and I love you so much. I don't know how to live without you, and I didn't ever want to imagine it", according to ABC7.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna appeared dismissive of Kevin Salazar's mental health during a press conference, stating, "Does it matter what the person was thinking or their condition?". Legal analyst Royal Oakes pointed out, the defense will have to prove Salazar's mental illness and, if found competent, they could argue that he did not know right from wrong at the time of the murder, as per NBC4.
Ultimately, the court must decide whether Kevin Salazar is fit to stand trial and how mental health factors into his defense.
