Sonia Angelita Castaneda-Montoya, 28

Pomona, California
March 16, 2013

Agencies: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department California LASD | Pomona Police Department California

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: over 3 years ago

Overview

Pomona police are not commenting on the Deluxe Motel incident as it is being investigated by the sheriff's department.

What has been reported is that a Pomona police officer and a Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office investigator were working together as part of a multi-agency task force when they drove through the driveway of the Deluxe Motel around 9:45 p.m. Saturday night.

Investigators said they do not know why Castaneda-Montoya, 28, of Pomona, was at the hotel. However, law enforcement officers say she was armed and appeared to be threatening the task force members.

"They where driving through the driveway when they observed the female coming in their direction pointing a handgun," said Lt. David Coleman, homicide investigator with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The Pomona officer and District Attorney's investigator believed they were on the verge of being shot at and fired their weapons in response, Coleman said.

The officers fired multiple times but it was unknown on Monday how many shots struck Castaneda-Montoya.

Preliminary results of an autopsy were expected to be delivered to investigators Monday, but a full report that includes toxicology analysis results are expected to take several weeks, Coleman said. Investigators also have yet to complete interviews.

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