SLO police identify officer killed in Monday shooting

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The San Luis Obispo Police Department has identified the officer who was killed in the line of duty Monday as well as the man suspected of killing him.

The police department says Detective Luca Benedetti was the officer shot and killed Monday evening while serving a search warrant at a San Luis Obispo apartment. Benedetti was a 12-year law enforcement veteran, the police department said.

Detective Steve Orozco was also injured in the shooting and was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released. He is expected to make a complete recovery.

The suspected shooter has been identified as Edward Zamora Giron, 37, who was found dead following the incident.

The officers were fired upon while serving a search warrant at an apartment on Camellia Court, off Margarita Avenue Monday evening. The police department said six officers were at the apartment as part of investigation into a string of late night burglaries. Officer approached the apartment and identified themselves as law enforcement as required by law, the police department said. After receiving no response for an extended amount of time, they forced open the front door.

"Giron was laying in wait and began to fire shots at the officers from inside the apartment," the police department said in a press release.

The two officers were both shot and returned fire. Giron was later found dead inside the apartment with what police described as an "apparent self-inflicted, fatal gunshot wound and other injuries consistent with being struck by the officers' return fire."

Benedetti is survived by his wife and two young children. He joined the San Luis Obispo Police Department in 2012 and before that served for four years with the Atascadero Police Department.

At the San Luis Obispo police station there has been an outpouring of support from the community and other law enforcement agencies. Dozens of flowers have been dropped off and taken inside the department.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office will be conducting investigating the incident. It is standard practice to have an outside agency conduct such investigations.

"I had the distinct pleasure of working with Luca over the past 9 years," said acting police chief Brian Amoroso. "He was 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."

Amaroso also thanked the community and other local law enforcement agencies and first responders for their support during this difficult time.

"The entire SLOPD is grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from the community," Amoroso said. He said the sheriff's office will be assisting with calls for service in the city while members of the police department "grieve and work through this tragedy."