Off-Duty L.A. Deputy Shot in Robbery at Hair Salon

BUENA PARK — Robbers who stormed a hair salon shot and critically wounded one of two off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies visiting there Thursday night.

The shooting occurred at 9 p.m. at DeCut’s Hair Salon on Western Avenue at La Palma Avenue, across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm. Police said two L.A. County sheriff’s deputies, a man and a woman, were in the salon apparently visiting when two robbers entered and demanded everyone’s wallet and watches.

Although the deputies were in plainclothes, the robbers learned that at least one of them was an officer when he took his wallet.

“The two robbers identified him and shot him in the back of the head,” said Sgt. Ken Coovert of the Buena Park police. Both robbers are still at large.

The 26-year-old deputy was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana. His name has not been released.

“This is an extremely tragic situation,” Coovert said. “He is in extremely critical condition and fighting for his life.”

The robbers fled with the wallets and watches. They remain at large.

Both suspects are described as black and between 20 and 22 years old and 6 feet tall. One was 220 pounds, wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over a baseball cap. He wore green khaki pants. The second suspect is 200 pounds, wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt pulled over a baseball cap, and gray pants.