Police departments across the U.S. have lost many of their brothers and sisters in blue over the last couple of months. In California, two different police departments lost two officers within a day of one another. One was in a city on the central coast.

Serving A Warrant

In San Luis Obispo, Detective Luca Benedetti went to serve a search warrant at a home. It was around 5:00 p.m.

The search warrant was for a man who police suspected was involved in a string of robberies over the last week. According to the department press release, it was a "knock and notice" warrant.

Benedetti and the other five officers identified themselves as police and waited for a response from the occupant inside the apartment. When there was no response, they forced the door open.

The suspect, Edward Zamora Giron, 37, began firing shots as soon as the officers entered the apartment. The officers fired back and began retreating from the residence.

Two officers, Benedetti and Detective Steve Orozco were shot. Bullets hit Giron from the officer's gunfire. However, he seems to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Officer Down

According to Acting Chief Bian Amoroso, Orozco will recover from his injuries, but Benedetti died at the scene. Benedetti had been an officer for 12 years and with SLOPD since 2012. Previously, he had served with the Atascadero Police Department for four years, was a SWAT team member.

“I had the distinct pleasure of working with Luca over the past 9 years. 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.”

Acting Chief Brian Amoroso

San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon expressed her condolences and the community's heartbreak over the murder of the detective.

Community Support

In a press release, Harmon wrote, "Detective Benedetti loved this City and bravely gave his life so that we could live in peace and safety. "

“Luca’s children have lost their father, so we could be safe. We will hold Detective Benedetti and his family in our hearts forever," Harmon said.

A GoFundMe has been started by the San Luis Obispo Police POA and SLO Regional SWAT to help Benedetti's wife and two daughters as they journey through this impossible time. His funeral will be held on May 20th.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Benedetti's family during this time.