LOS ANGELES � The man charged with murder in the ambush killing of a Los
Angeles County sheriff�s deputy entered a plea of not guilty by reason of
insanity on Wednesday.

Officials say Kevin Cataneo Salazar fatally shot 30-year-old Deputy Ryan
Clinkunbroomer, who was sitting in a patrol car, on Saturday in Palmdale,
a city of more than 167,000 residents in the high desert of northern Los
Angeles County.

The deputy was �waiting for a red light to turn� when he was shot, Sheriff
Robert Luna said.

Prosecutors charged Cataneo Salazar, 29, with one count of murder, plus
special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, murder
committed by lying in wait, murder committed by firing from a car and
personal use of a firearm. His attorney, George Rosenstock, entered a plea
of not guilty and a dual plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on his
behalf during Wednesday�s arraignment.

Cataneo Salazar was arrested Monday after an hourslong standoff with
sheriff�s deputies. He had barricaded himself inside his family�s Palmdale
home.

Cataneo Salazar remained held without bail and is scheduled to return to
court in November. Rosenstock did not immediately respond to a request for
additional comment, though his office said the legal team would not be
discussing the case further.

At an afternoon news conference, District Attorney George Gasc�n said
prosecutors owe it to the slain deputy�s family to secure a conviction and
a sentence of life.

�We�re going to do everything in our power to make sure the defendant
never gets out of prison,� Gasc�n said. He was flanked by Clinkunbroomer�s
fiancee, parents, brother and sister. Dozens of sheriff�s deputies lined
the walls wearing black mourning bands over their badges.

Brittany Lindsey, Clinkunbroomer�s fiancee, fought back tears as she
recounted their plans to get married and raise a family.

�Ryan was the best guy I ever met,� Lindsey said during the news
conference. �I couldn�t wait to start our lives together.�

Prosecutors haven�t laid out a motive in the case or said whether
Clinkunbroomer and Cataneo Salazar previously knew each other.

Cataneo Salazar�s mother and other family members did not return phone and
email messages seeking comment.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspect-ambush-killing-l-deputy-
pleads-not-guilty-due-insanity-rcna108125