Off-duty Monterey Park police officer shot, killed in Downey parking lot

DOWNEY, Calif. (KABC) -- An off-duty Monterey Park police officer was shot and killed in a parking lot in Downey Monday afternoon, officials say.

The shooting happened around 3:25 p.m. in a parking lot at 12070 Lakewood Boulevard, in front of a busy gym at the shopping center.

Police found a man with gunshot wounds at the scene. It appeared he may have been shot in or near a black Dodge Charger. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene.

Investigators discovered the victim was an off-duty officer of the Monterey Park Police Department. His name has not been released.

A possible motive and circumstances of the shooting are under investigation.

Police were tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation during an evening news conference. They said they are following several active leads.

"Right now our main focus is making sure that the person that did this is brought to justice, and that the investigation is allowed to take place in the way it needs to take place, and that we support the family in every way, shape and form we can," Monterey Park Police Department Chief Kelly Gordon said.

A procession that began just before 11 p.m. escorted the officer's body from the scene to the coroner's office.

"We're a family, and that's the bottom line," Gordon said. "We have worked hard to build a culture within our department that we take care of each other. This is a tragedy. This is a tragedy for his family, but this is a tragedy for the Monterey Park Police Department as well."