Shooting of sheriff’s deputies in Compton becomes political

A large plaque hangs on the wall of LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s office in downtown LA. On September 12 in Compton, two sheriff’s deputies were shot at point-blank range while sitting in their car. Photo by Amy Ta/KCRW

On Saturday night, two LA County sheriff’s deputies were shot at point-blank range while sitting in their car outside a Compton Metro station. It’s not clear why the deputies were targeted, but there’s been tension between the Sheriff’s Department and communities of color. Last month’s killing of Dijon Kizzee sparked a wave of protests.