By Phil HelselNBC
News
Two Southern California police officers were fatally shot Tuesday while responding to an alert call for an alleged stabbing at a motel, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred at 4:47 p.m. in El Monte, a city east of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The shooting occurred shortly after they arrived at the scene when officers made contact with the suspect, who was in one of the bedrooms, Homicide Capt. Andrew Meyer said.
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The suspect then fled the motel room and a second shooting ensued in the parking lot, Meyer said.
The two officers were injured and taken to a hospital, but died hours later, Meyer added.
The suspect was also shot in his confrontation with police and died at the scene.
The homicide captain confirmed that a weapon was recovered at the scene.
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The authorities have not yet been able to determine all the details of what happened.
"It's very early in the course of the investigation, we don't have all the facts yet," Meyer revealed.
However, he pointed out that everything indicates that there was no stabbing, as had been reported.
Detectives are questioning a woman believed to be the suspect's girlfriend.
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The identities of the officers and the dead suspect have not yet been released.
One of the officers killed was described as a veteran with at least 22 years of experience;
the other had been in his position for less than a year.
"They were good guys," said Ben Lowry, El Monte's acting police chief.
The investigation is being led by the sheriff's department.