SLO shooting suspect attacked officers with ‘assault-style rifle’
Latest update to this story >> >> SLO police officer slain in shooting remembered as ‘talented detective,’ father of 2
Update, 1:50 p.m.:
The pain of what happened Monday will likely continue to be felt by the department in the coming days, weeks and months, new San Luis Obispo Police Chief Rick Scott said during the news conference Tuesday.
“Yesterday was an absolute tragedy — an officer died serving our community,” Scott said.
Scott’s first day leading the department was scheduled for later this week, but tragedy prompted him to begin his new position earlier than expected.
“What I saw on my first day on the job was how dedicated each of our officers are in our police family to one another, and they held each other up,” he said. “Last night, our police family wrapped their arms around one another. ... I saw expressions of love and support for one another, and the amazing strength displayed through this grief.”
Scott said he wanted to extend his sympathy to not only the Benedetti and Orozco families, but also “the entire community of San Luis Obispo.”
“This tragic loss will be deeply felt, and will take time to gain understanding and begin to heal,” he said. “It will take even longer to consider how something so tragic could happen here, and to the good men and women of your police department.”
Update, 1:10 p.m.:
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said suspect Edward Zamora Giron did not have any registered firearms.
Witnesses told The Tribune that the weapon used appeared to be an assault-style rifle, and Parkinson said “that aligns” with their investigation.
Parkinson said law enforcement had no mental health alerts for Giron, but that he had been arrested on multiple occasions for alcohol-related offenses.
One of the commercial burglaries tied to Giron was at The Pad Climbing gym in San Luis Obispo, which was hit by a burglar early Monday morning, according to a social media post from The Pad.
Around 3:30 a.m. Monday, someone broke into the Ricardo Court gym using a hidden staff key and stole between $15,000 and $20,000 worth of equipment, CEO Kristin Horowitz told The Tribune on Monday afternoon.
Stolen items included climbing ropes, harnesses, computers, a safe used to store iPads and keys for the building and numerous parts of the gym’s security system, as well as some of Horowitz and her husband’s own personal equipment.
“First, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the SLO PD and extend our hearts to the officers who were shot, their families and their colleagues,” the Pad’s social media post said.
“As we learn more about what happened with Eddie, we hope there is something to be learned,” the post continued. “The Pad Climbing family has always sought to support each other and our community, and we ask for love and empathy for all who are impacted by this tragedy. We will have a counselor available at the gym as soon as possible for any community or staff member that wishes to talk.”
Update, 12:40 p.m.:
During a news conference Tuesday, San Luis Obispo city and police department officials shared more about Detective Luca Benedetti, who was killed in the officer-involved shooting Monday.
Benedetti 37, joined the San Luis Obispo Police Department in 2012. Before that, he served for four years with the Atascadero Police Department.
“I had the distinct pleasure of working with Luca over the past nine years,” acting San Luis Obispo Police Chief Brian Amoroso said during Tuesday’s news conference. “I considered him a personal friend, a dedicated officer, a talented detective, a proud member of the San Luis Obispo regional SWAT team, and most importantly, a loving husband and father.”
Benedetti is survived by his wife and two young children.
“We are heartbroken alongside you,” San Luis Obispo city manager Derek Johnson said in an aside to Benedetti’s family during the news conference. “Know that the entire city family will walk the path of grief with you, and we will always remember Luca’s sacrifice.”
The San Luis Obispo police officer who was injured in the gunfire, Detective Steve Orozco, is expected to make a full recovery, Amoroso said.
Update, 12:10 p.m.:
San Luis Obispo police said a total of six officers responded to an apartment on Camellia Court at approximately 5 p.m. Monday to serve a search warrant for stolen property.
At the news conference, acting San Luis Obispo Police Chief Brian Amoroso said the search warrant was for possible stolen property related to a series of late-night commercial burglaries that have taken place over the past week.
As the officers approached the apartment, they identified themselves and asked to enter, Amoroso said.
After an extended period of time with no response, they forced open the front door. Giron was laying in wait and opened fire on the officers, Amoroso said.
Officers returned fire and retreated, Amoroso said. However, two officers were shot during the exchange of gunfire, according to the acting police chief.
Giron was later found dead inside the apartment with an apparent self-inflicted, fatal gunshot wound and other injuries consistent with being struck by the officers’ return fire, Amoroso said.
Benedetti died at the scene as a result of wounds he received in the gunfire.
“Yesterday was an absolute tragedy,” incoming San Luis Obispo Police Chief Rick Scott said during the news conference. “An officer died serving the community. ... This tragic loss will be deeply felt. And will take time to gain understanding.”
Update 12:01 p.m.:
San Luis Obispo Police have released the name of the officer who was killed and the officer who was wounded in a shooting incident on Monday.
Luca Benedetti, a 12-year-veteran of the force, was shot and killed Monday while serving a search warrant to an apartment on Camellia Court in San Luis Obispo.
The suspected shooter was identified as Edward Zamora Giron, 37.
Another officer was also wounded in the incident: Steve Orozco was injured and transported to Sierra Vista Hospital where he was treated and released Monday evening.
Original story:
San Luis Obispo city officials will soon release new details in the police shooting that left one officer dead, another wounded and the suspect killed on Monday.
Officials are holding a press conference at noon to discuss the incident and likely release identification of those involved.
You can watch the press conference livestream here, or follow along in this story for updates.
This story was originally published May 11, 2021 at 11:54 AM.
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