Biden condemns shooting of L.A. County deputies, Trump wants death penalty for suspect 'if they die'

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, on Sunday condemned the "cold-blooded" and "unconscionable" shooting of two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies stationed in their patrol vehicle in Compton on Saturday night. The search for the suspect — who could be seen from a distance in what appears to be a video of the shooting — is still ongoing.

Biden has attempted to simultaneously speak out against police brutality and violent responses to it, so it's no surprise that he reacted unambiguously to the incident, which has not been confirmed to be related to the overarching tensions surrounding the nation's police forces.

President Trump also spoke out harshly, describing the shooter as one of the "animals that must be hit hard" in an early morning tweet. Later on Sunday, the president called for a "fast trial" and the "death penalty for the killer" if the deputies die. The two officers are currently in critical condition, having undergone surgery.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told CNN's Jake Tapper during an appearance on Sunday's State of the Union that there's "no place in civilized society" for such a shooting and promised "we will find justice" for the deputies. Tim O'Donnell