L.A. Sheriff’s Deputy Praised as Hero for Helping Her Partner Survive Ambush Shooting

claudia-apolinar-lasd
LASD/Facebook, FOX11LA
David Ng

The female Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who was ambushed and shot in the face on Saturday has emerged as a hero for helping her partner who was also seriously wounded during the attack, a source familiar with the incident told Breitbart News.

The 31-year-old mother was one of two officers who were both shot in the face after an assailant approached their parked cruiser in Compton and opened fire on them. Both deputies remain in critical condition and are expected to survive the horrific attack.

Breitbart News learned the identities of both officers but refrained from publishing their names. On Tuesday, Britain’s Daily Mail published the name of Claudia Apolinar, reporting she is a former librarian who had graduated the L.A. Police Academy only one year ago.

Apolinar is the mother of a six-year-old child. She sustained bullet wounds to the jaw and arms, while the other officer — a 24-year-old male, also Latino — was hit in the forehead, an arm, and a hand.

On Saturday evening, the assailant approached the deputies’ cruiser, which was stopped outside the MLK, Jr. Transit Center in Compton. The unknown gunman fired multiple rounds into the vehicle before fleeing the scene on foot.

Breitbart News learned that Apolinar stumbled out of the vehicle after being shot and then helped her partner by applying a tourniquet to his wounds. She also put out a Help Call before administering the first aid.

Video has emerged that appears to show Apolinar moving her wounded partner to safety following the attack.  The footage was posted to the official Twitter account of the LAPD Mission Station.

“She called for help, was able to rendered [sic] aid to her partner. She remained calm & stayed vigilant! Most of all SHE NEVER GAVE UP! She & her partner are heroes,” the LAPD Mission Station tweeted.

Multiple photos of the horrific incident have also emerged showing the wounded police deputies.

The Daily Mail reported that Apolinar was a rookie officer who worked as an aide in the L.A. County library system from 2011 and signed up to the Sheriff’s Department in 2017.

Both cops were taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood following the incident. Late Saturday, Black Lives Matter protesters congregated outside the hospital, yelling insults at police officers and wishing death on the two wounded deputies.

A video obtained by Breitbart News shows BLM protestors callings cops “pigs” and “executioners” while shouting, “I hope they fucking die!”

There are currently no suspects in the case, though an arrest could come as early as this week, a source familiar with the investigation told Breitbart News. The Sheriff’s Department has put out a $100,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Officials are looking for a black male around the age of 28 to 30 years old.

Follow David Ng on Twitter @HeyItsDavidNg. Have a tip? Contact me at dng@breitbart.com

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