Compton School Officer, Shot by Ambusher, Dies After Leg Surgery

A Compton Unified School District police officer, shot from ambush last week, has died of complications resulting from surgery, officials said Tuesday. The victim, Roosevelt Ferrell, 51, of Inglewood, is believed to be the first school district police officer in California to die in the line of duty, according to the Police Officers Research Assn.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested shortly after the March 9 shooting on the Chester Adult School campus, when he was spotted fleeing the scene by an observer in a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter. Two other youths escaped and are still being sought.

Sheriff’s Deputy Lynda Edmonds said Ferrell was on routine foot patrol of the adult school campus at 1104 East 148th St. shortly after 5 p.m. when he spotted three youths trespassing on the grounds.

Edmonds said that 40 minutes after Ferrell had ordered the three to leave campus, the officer was shot from ambush, falling with a leg wound.

The wounded officer was taken to Dominguez Medical Center, where he died Monday of complications arising from surgery on the wounded leg, hospital spokeswoman Karen Oppliger said. She said any further details would have to come from the coroner’s office. An autopsy will be performed today, a coroner’s spokesman said.

Ferrell, employed by the school district as a watchman in 1976 and a sworn peace officer since 1980, was married and the father of four.

Senior Officer Ken Crawford characterized his slain colleague as “an exemplary officer who never shirked his duty.” Crawford said that Ferrell’s death came as a shock to the 45 members of the district police force.

Edmonds said the 16-year-old suspect will remain in custody at Los Padrinos Juvenile Facility on a count of attempted murder until after the autopsy, when the district attorney’s office will decide whether to change the charge to murder.