SWAT officer in critical condition, likely shot in back of head

Authorities have identified the Pomona police officer who was shot early Tuesday while serving a search warrant, alleging a known gang member opened fire on the officer as he tried to enter a San Gabriel home.

Officer Shaun Diamond was part of a 14-member, multi-agency SWAT team serving the warrant about 4. a.m. in the 100 block of San Marino Avenue, authorities told reporters at a Tuesday news conference.

As Diamond tried to get through an exterior door, an interior door opened and the suspect fired a shotgun at the officer, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Hernandez.

Diamond was struck above a tactical vest but -- despite wearing a Kevlar helmet -- appears to have been hit in the back of his head, Hernandez said. He remained in critical condition at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena.

After firing a single round, Hernandez said, the suspect laid on the ground and put the shotgun at his side.

The suspect, identified as David Martinez of Montebello, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held on $4-million bail. He’s due in court Thursday.

Authorities described the 36-year-old as a known member of the Mongols motorcycle gang. Sources said the search warrant related to an ongoing investigation into the gang, which is believed to be involved in a series of recent shootings in Southern California.
Diamond has been with Pomona police since 2008 and previously worked for the Montebello Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, officials said.

Pomona police initially said the 45-year-old officer was struck in the face, but at a news conference later in the morning, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials would say only that he was hit in the upper torso. The Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation

The officer’s family has been flown from Orange County to the Pasadena hospital, officials said.

“We are hoping for the best,” Pomona Police Lt. Michael Keltner said. “He is very passionate about law enforcement… He’s a top notch guy.”

Martinez’s father, who was at the small single-family home, was also struck in the arm by the gunfire, sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.

Officers did not return fire, Nishida said, adding that the investigation was still in its early stages.

The search warrant was being served as part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a motorcycle gang, which they also did not identify.

The shooting shocked the quiet neighborhood, where residents awoke to find a heavy police presence.

“This is unheard of,” said Delta Uyenoyama, a 20-year resident who lives near where the shooting occurred.

The shooting comes days after two deputies, one each from the Sacramento County and Placer County sheriff’s departments, were killed during a six-hour rampage by a gunman in Northern California.

Also on Tuesday, a Ventura County sheriff’s deputy was killed after he was struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop on the 101 Freeway.

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