PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) – Two Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city’s police chief said.
A third officer was wounded and remained hospitalized. The shooter was not immediately identified.
SWAT officers quickly surrounded the house where the shooting took place, and authorities said late Saturday night that the gunman might still be holed up inside.
“It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of the city,” said Chief Bryan Reyes at a news conference.
The chief, near tears, identified the slain officers as Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.