President Trump made a phone call to the deputies recovering from their injuries after they were ambushed by a lone gunman while sitting in their patrol car.
The 31-year-old female deputy and 24-year-old male deputy were sitting in their patrol car in Compton outside a metro station on September 12th when a man approached their car around 7 PM, produced a firearm, shot into the passenger side of the vehicle several times, and ran away.
Video of the shooting has widely circulated social media, including surveillance footage that recorded the heroic actions of the 31-year-old female deputy, who tended to her partner and applied a tourniquet to his arm, even as she bled from a bullet wound to her jaw.
“She helped the other wounded deputy, got on the radio, provided medical care, got him to a place of safety ’cause they didn’t know if there was another attack coming their way,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
Both deputies underwent surgery for their injuries. The female deputy had been shot in the jaw and arms, and the male deputy was shot in the arm.
Over the weekend, President Trump called the deputies to offer encouragement and to wish them well on their recovery. LASD Transit Services shared the story on Facebook.
“This week #potus45 @realdonaldtrump called both of our deputies to check on their spirits, wish them a speedy recovery and remind them that the #american people are behind them and that the coward that harmed them will be brought to #justice!!”
The female deputy was unable to speak due to her injuries, but Sergeant Frederickson relayed all of her written messages and responses to President Trump over the phone.
Both deputies have been released from the hospital as of Monday. “They both have a long road ahead to recovery,” stated the LA County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter. “LASD appreciates your continued prayers and all the support.”
The LASD and the injured officers have seen a national and local wave of support. Only days after the shooting, the Sheriff’s Office shared on Facebook that they had been receiving cards, letters, emails, donations, and flowers every day since the shooting.
And yesterday, 11-year-old Max Durfee and his 8-year-old brother Carson donated $1,100 to LASD Transit Services. They had raised the money for the injured officers by selling craft sodas outside their home in a span of just two days.
The gunman has not yet been found. A $100,000 reward has been offered for his capture.
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