The mother of a Los Angeles County deputy killed in Palmdale criticized District Attorney George Gascón’s decision to not seek the death penalty for the man charged in the fatal shooting.
On Sept. 20, the family of deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer joined L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna and DA Gascón at a press conference. Hours prior, 29-year-old Kevin Salazar who was arrested in connection to Clinkunbroomer’s death, pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity.
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At that press conference, Gascón said he would not seek the death penalty.
“If I thought seeking the death penalty was gonna bring Ryan back to us, I would seek it without any reservation,” he said.“But it won’t.”
Clinkunbroomer’s mother, Kim, recalled in an exclusive interview with ABC News the moment she and the family heard those words.
“I think at the moment we were in kind of a state of shock that it was not the death penalty,” she said.
She continued, “Life in prison? I’m still paying for that then, as a parent, as a taxpayer. It just seems that the district attorney wants to spare a life when he didn’t spare my son’s life.”
She also criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s moratorium on the death penalty, saying, “Things need to change.”
L.A. County District Attorney's Office sent the following statement to ABC News:
"We have nothing but compassion for the family of Deputy Clinkunbroomer. They are experiencing an unthinkable loss. Nothing that can happen in the criminal justice system will ever repair the harm of losing someone so beloved. He is a fallen hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. May his memory be a guiding light, reminding us of the profound sacrifices made by those who wear the badge.”
Salazar’s family has maintained that he has schizophrenia. His mother told the Los Angeles Times, “My son is mentally ill, and if he did something, he wasn't in his full mental capacity. They're only saying that he was the one that shot the deputy, but nobody is saying he has a record for needing mental help."
Salazar’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 7. He is being held without bail.
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