A Monterey Park police officer shot to death in a Downey parking lot outside a gym was identified by authorities Tuesday as 26-year-old Gardiel Solorio while their search for the killer, and a possible motive, intensified.
At an afternoon news conference, police officials from Monterey Park and Downey offered glimpses into the life of the tough, promising young officer, who was just starting his career in law enforcement.
But authorities offered no new details into the possible motive or circumstances surrounding the Monday shooting, and took no questions from reporters during the brief news conference.
A wide-ranging search continued Tuesday for the suspect or suspects, Downey police Capt. Scott Loughner said. He said he could not provide any details into leads detectives were following.
Dozens of motorcycle officers lead a procession as a fallen Monterey Park police officer was taken to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. He was off duty when fatally shot in a Downey parking lot on Monday, Aug. 8. (OC Hawk)
Monterey Park police escort the body of a fallen officer to a coroner’s van Monday night, Aug. 8, after the officer died in a shooting in Downey while off duty. (OC Hawk)
A picture of Garfield Solario during a news conference regarding the fatal shooting of an off-duty Monterey Park police officer Gardiel Solorio, 26, of Bell Gardens in front of the Downey City Hall in Downey on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Monterey Park Chief of Police Kelly Gordon speaks during a news conference regarding the fatal shooting of an off-duty Monterey Park police officer Gardiel Solorio, 26, of Bell Gardens in front of the Downey City Hall in Downey on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Monterey Park Chief of Police Kelly Gordon speaks during a news conference regarding the fatal shooting of an off-duty Monterey Park police officer Gardiel Solorio, 26, of Bell Gardens in front of the Downey City Hall in Downey on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
The badge of Monterey Park Chief of Police Kelly Gordon as she speaks during a news conference regarding the fatal shooting of an off-duty Monterey Park police officer Gardiel Solorio, 26, of Bell Gardens in front of the Downey City Hall in Downey on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Show Caption
of
Expand
It also remained unclear whether Solorio was targeted because he was an officer.
The shooting was reported at 3:25 p.m. Monday in the 12700 block of Lakewood Boulevard, near the Glenn Anderson (105) Freeway, with the officer later found unresponsive in the seat of his car.
Solorio, who grew up in Bell Gardens and was a graduate of Cal State Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, is survived by his parents, brothers and sisters and his fiancee, Monterey Park Police Chief Kelly Gordon said.
Hired as a recruit in late January, Solorio started
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
(Visited 15 times, 1 visits today)
