Deputy Killed going to work

**pgg** · 08-02-08, 05:48 PM

A L.A. Deputy was killed leaving for work today.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,7868863.story

A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy leaving his Cypress Park home for work at the Men's Central Jail was killed in a drive-by shooting early this morning, Los Angeles police said.

Juan Abel Escalante, 27, a father of three, died near his car shortly after the 5:40 a.m. shooting at Aragon Avenue between Maceo Street and Thorpe Avenue, police said.

Photos: Deputy shot dead in Cypress... Video: Off-duty sheriff's deputy...Police said a white, four-door vehicle approached the 2 1/2 -year veteran. Numerous gunshots were fired from the vehicle, striking the deputy.

"Today is a very difficult day," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who was on the scene along with LAPD Chief William J. Bratton. "There are people within our Sheriff's Department that are grieving, as am I."

Escalante and his family were living at his parents' house, where he grew up, Baca said. He was in the process of buying a home in Pomona.

Baca called Escalante, who was a U.S. military veteran, "a local success story" and a deputy who was "dedicated and hard-charging in the best sense of the word."

"He lived up to the dream of serving his country, serving his county and honoring his family," Baca said.

Police officers wouldn't say whether the deputy was in uniform, or how many shots were fired. Rookie deputies typically work in county jails for their first assignments.

"We have no information about the suspect," said LAPD Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz. "The best detectives in our Police Department are handling this case."

A neighbor, Gloria Ruiz, said that her son and Escalante grew up together and had both served in Iraq. She said he had a strict upbringing and his mother "would gleam whenever he had good grades."

Bratton described the area as a historically troubled one because of a feud between the gangs in the Cypress Park and Glassell Park areas, but said that it had been quiet in recent months after an LAPD raid earlier this year.

In an incident that occurred just a few blocks away from today's shooting, a 37-year-old man was fatally shot more than a dozen times in February by suspected gang members as he held the hand of a 2-year-old girl, who was picked up by a passerby and carried to safety.

Police officers later found themselves in a gun battle after they pulled over the suspected gunmen's vehicle and one of the car's occupants began firing an AK-47. None of the officers was injured, but one gunman was killed and another wounded.

Thousands were forced to stay in their homes during the shootout, and several schools were locked down.

Today's death was the second in recent years in which a sheriff's deputy was fatally shot while leaving for work.

In March 2006, Deputy Maria Cecilia Rosa was killed in Long Beach shortly before 6 a.m. as she was leaving a friend's house for work at the Inmate Reception Center at Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles. The shooting was found to be a botched robbery.

In May, the gunman in the shooting was convicted and sentenced to death, and an accomplice was sentenced to life in prison for the slaying.

jp.renaud@latimes.com

andrew.blankstein@latimes.com

**depusm12** · 08-02-08, 06:00 PM

R.I.P. brother. Hopefully they find those rat bastards who murdered him.

**Just KC** · 08-02-08, 07:41 PM

This sucks!! DAMN!!! RIP and hope they find the scums that did this.

**BigDawg** · 08-02-08, 07:53 PM

RIP my Brother

**Jenna** · 08-02-08, 07:57 PM

Rest in peace.

**Second Chance** · 08-02-08, 08:24 PM

R.I.P.......brother

**Dustoff262** · 08-02-08, 09:40 PM

RIP Brother.. God Bless and may he keep your family in his Graces.

**armsmaster270** · 08-02-08, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by depusm12

R.I.P. brother. Hopefully they find those rat bastards who murdered him.

I fully concur, R.I.P.

**adroitcuffs** · 08-02-08, 11:11 PM

RIP

**Willowdared** · 08-03-08, 03:08 PM

Thoughts and prayers en-route.

**Lawdog32** · 08-03-08, 03:21 PM

Rest in peace brother

**deputysykes** · 08-03-08, 04:54 PM

Thoughts and prayers.

**mike01** · 08-03-08, 05:34 PM

i would like to spit some beachnut in that dudes eye,and shoot em with my old 45,....
y'all run them old bastards down here,woul ya? R.I.P.

**2 Blue 4 U** · 08-03-08, 06:38 PM

Condolences to his family and friends

Rest in Peace

**mack** · 08-03-08, 07:11 PM

Rest in peace, brother. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

**Growler** · 08-03-08, 10:33 PM

Rest in peace..

Everyone please be careful with your take home vehicles. Nice to have but it gives off when we are there and when we are not.

**Just KC** · 08-04-08, 02:52 AM

He wasn't in uniform, and he was next to his own vehicle. His wife and kids were inside the house and he had walked to his car to put a car seat in.......
Just so extremely sad.......
Be careful everyone...

**Illiy** · 08-18-08, 07:17 PM

This one hits close to home.. My cousin worked with him... Prayers to him, his family, and department.

I have heard lots of different versions of what happened and all it leads to is be safe out there...
watch your surroundings...

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