
As the team entered the San Fernando Valley home believing there to still be wounded victims inside, the suspect opened fire striking Officer Randy Simmons in the head and wouding Officer James Venestra, another member of the SWAT Team. Both officers were immediately transported to Northridge Medical Center in Los Angeles, where Officer Simmons succumbed to his wounds approximately 30 minutes later. The second officer, a veteran member of the tactical team who was cited for valor in 1997 for his actions at the scene of a shooting that left a Glendale police detective dead, underwent surgery and was expected to survive.
Officer Simmons, age 51, had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 27 years and had served with the SWAT Unit for 20 of those years. He was described by his former partner, Los Angeles Police Captain James Craig, as being "Passionate about the job and passionate about making a difference in the community". Officer Simmons is survived by his wife, a son age 15, a daughter age 13, his parents, and three sisters.

Sergeant William Biggs was fatally shot in the head while in the parking lot of the Kirkwood Police Department across the street from city hall when the suspect approached him and asked what time the meeting started. The suspect then took Sergeant Biggs' service weapon and walked across the street into city hall where he approached Officer Tom Ballman who was sitting in the front of the room and fatally shot him in the head also. The man then opened fire on the other people in the room killing two council members and the director of public works before being shot and killed by two other police officers.
As of this writing, I had no further information on age or length of service for either Sergeant Biggs or Officer Ballman but I am sure that they were both well-respected members of their department and will be sorely missed.
Please keep the families of Officer Simmons, Sergeant Biggs, and Officer Ballman in your thoughts and prayers as well as their fellow department members. Both communities have suffered devastating losses and these senseless tragedies need to stop!
I was waiting for this post from you. I read about these three in this mornings newspaper. This has just got to stop. All three of these families are in my thoughts and prayers. :(
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