Los Angeles County deputy shot in off-duty attack dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who was shot in an off-duty attack at a fast-food restaurant died Wednesday, the sheriff announced.

Joseph Gilbert Solano, who had been on life support, died Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

Medical staff worked around the clock for two days "trying to do a miracle but unfortunately that didn't come to pass," he said.

A man walked into a Jack in the Box in suburban Alhambra on Monday and shot Solano in the head as he was waiting for his food order at the counter, authorities said.

Solano was out of uniform and there's no indication that the gunman knew he was a deputy, Villanueva said.

"The deputy was alerted in the restaurant that someone was following him and that's when he turned to confront it and that's when the shooting happened," the sheriff said. "But a motive or rationale from the suspect, that's the million-dollar question."

Solano's son, girlfriend, mother and other family members were at the hospital news conference.

"He was a really good dad," said his weeping son, Matthew Solano. "Continue to pray for him and my family, please."

Not only did I lose a father figure, but a best friend," said Solano's stepdaughter, Jessica. "All I ask is just don't forget about him. He was a hard-working man. And was loved by many. He would want us to continue his legacy and never forget him."

Rhett Nelson, 30, of St. George, Utah, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of the killing after he called his father in Utah from a Long Beach church to say he had killed someone.

Nelson's family has said he suffers from mental illness and an opiate addiction. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

Investigators said Nelson also is suspected of shooting a 30-year-old man...