TWO deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were shot in an ambush in Compton late on Saturday night.
Reacting to the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump retweeted shocking video of the attack and wrote: "Animals that must be hit hard!"
Shocking video shows a man repeatedly shooting at the male and female officer from the Transit Services Bureau in their patrol car outside the city’s Metro Blue Line station.
Footage shows the unidentified shooter open firing on the passenger side of the patrol vehicle, leaving both the male and female deputy with head wounds.
The suspect got off a bus at the station and then carried out the attack before fleeing on foot.
"At this point we have a very very generic description of a dark-skinned male and that came from one the victims," Captain Kent Wegener told news conference.
The L.A. county sheriff's department tweeted: "One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle.
"Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and are in critical condition. They are currently being treated.”
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said one deputy was a 31-year-old mother of a six-year-old son and her husband is with her at the hospital.
The other deputy is a 24-year-old male and his parents and girlfriend are at the hospital.
He said both had been sworn into the department just 14 months ago.
The two deputies initiated radio contact after they were shot and were rushed to hospital with the assistance of other deputies, he said.
"This is just a somber reminder that this is a dangerous job, and actions and words have consequences,” said Sheriff Villanueva
“Our job does not get any easier because people do not like law enforcement.It pisses me off, it dismays me at the same time. There's no pretty way to say it."
FBI Los Angeles has offered resources and "stands ready to assist" in response to the attack.
Local law enforcement officers took to social media to express their anger and disgust over the shooting.
“I hope this monster is caught soon,” LAPD Capt. Gisselle Espinoza tweeted.
“I’m sick to my stomach. The deputies are in my prayers. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
US Rep. Adam Schiff tweeted he was praying for the two deputies saying: "Every day, law enforcement officers put themselves at risk to protect our community.
"I hope the perpetrator of this cowardly attack can be quickly brought to justice."
The attack on the two deputies comes amid protests in Los Angeles by the Black Lives Matter movement and calls to defund the police in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
The shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin led to Black Lives Matter protesters and counterprotesters clashing at demonstrations across the United States.
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