A Los Angeles County jury determined on Wednesday that Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, 32, was sane at the time of the September 16, 2023, shooting that killed Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, a 30-year-old sheriff’s deputy. The verdict, delivered during the sanity phase of Salazar’s trial, ensures he will receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole under California law.
The jury’s decision follows Salazar’s conviction last week on murder charges with special circumstances, including the killing of a peace officer, lying in wait, and discharging a firearm. Prosecutors alleged that Salazar shot Clinkunbroomer from behind with a .22-caliber revolver in broad daylight near the Palmdale sheriff’s station. The shooting occurred while Clinkunbroomer was stopped at a red light.
Salazar had entered a dual plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, arguing that severe mental illness contributed to the killing. His defense attorney and family claimed he was hearing voices that instructed him to take his own life at the time of the attack. However, prosecutors presented jailhouse recordings in which Salazar allegedly admitted to harboring long-standing desires to kill a police officer, stating he had followed officers while listening to music to prepare for the attack.
Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, a third-generation sheriff’s deputy and aspiring detective, was described by colleagues as a smart, dependable officer who had proposed to his girlfriend months before his death. Sheriff Robert Luna called him a hero and model officer, emphasizing that Clinkunbroomer embodied the qualities the department sought in its personnel.
The brazen nature of the shooting, which occurred in a public area near a sheriff’s station, shocked local law enforcement. Salazar, a Palmdale resident, faces sentencing in the coming weeks. Under California law, the conviction for murder with special circumstances mandates a life sentence without parole.
The trial’s sanity phase concluded with the jury rejecting Salazar’s insanity claim, affirming that he was legally responsible for the killing. The case has drawn significant attention due to its impact on law enforcement morale and the broader discussion surrounding mental health defenses in violent crimes.