2 California police officers fatally shot in less than 24 hours, third wounded

A Stockton police officer responding to a domestic disturbance call was fatally shot Tuesday, the second California officer to be killed in the line of duty in 24 hours.

Officer Jimmy Inn, 30, was gunned down almost immediately upon arriving at a Stockton home shortly after 10 a.m. A 911 caller had reported seeing a woman outside screaming and bleeding with a ripped shirt, Police Chief Eric Jones said. The chief characterized the attack on Inn as “violent, blatant and a very sudden assault.”

A second officer arrived and was shot at by the gunman. The officer returned fire before the man briefly retreated into the home, grabbed an 8-year-old boy and tried to strangle the child, Jones said.

The chief said the officer directed the man to release the child, but that he did not. A community member then tackled the gunman, and the second police officer, to preserve life, the chief said, shot the man.

“Officer Jimmy Inn was responding to a domestic violence report, to assist a domestic violence victim and he died protecting those who cannot protect themselves,” Jones said. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice, knowing this was a dangerous job.”

Paramedics took Inn and the gunman to a hospital, and both died of their wounds.

Inn had served six years with the Stockton police. Jones said Inn leaves behind a wife, Tela, a fellow Stockton police officer; a 7-month-old son; a 12-year-old stepdaughter; and a 14-year-old stepson.

“At this moment the community grieves the loss of one of our very own Stockton police officers,” Mayor Kevin Lincoln said. “This is a time for us to come together and support one another.”

In San Luis Obispo, the police chief Tuesday identified an officer gunned down while serving a search warrant for stolen property as Luca Benedetti, a 12-year law enforcement veteran. He was one of six officers assisting with serving the warrant at an apartment when a gunman opened fire from inside about 5:30 p.m. Monday.

So far in 2021, nine California police officers have died in the line of duty. The latest shootings came during National Police Week.

The suspect in San Luis Obispo, identified as Edward Zimon Giron, 37, was found dead. He suffered gunshot wounds in a shootout with police officers but also shot himself inside the apartment, police said.

A second officer was wounded during the incident; he was identified as Steve Orozco, police said. He was treated and released from Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center on Monday evening.

“Yesterday was an absolute tragedy,” Police Chief Rick Scott said at a news conference. “An officer died serving this community. This tragic loss will be deeply felt.”

The search warrant was related to a series of late-night burglaries in the community. The officers approached the apartment and announced their presence. When they got no reply, they forced their way in through the front door, police said.

According to police, as officers crossed the apartment threshold, Giron began firing from deeper in the apartment. The two officers were felled by the rounds; colleagues dragged them out of the line of further fire while shooting back at Giron, police said.

Benedetti, a detective and member of the regional SWAT team, is survived by his wife and two young children. He joined the San Luis Obispo Police Department in 2012, having previously served four years with the police department in nearby Atascadero.

“Our community is heartbroken,” San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon said. “Det. Benedetti loved this city and bravely gave his life so that we could live in peace and safety.”

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said Giron had a relatively minor criminal record of drunk driving and property crimes and had no registered firearms.