Sheriff: need to stop fanning 'flames of hatred'

Authorities were continuing search for a gunman who shot and wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in an apparent ambush in ir squad car.

department anunced a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Surveillance video shows a gunman with a pistol open fire on deputies’ patrol car. A handful of protesters gared outside hospital where injured deputies were being treated.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says deputies, a male and a female who graduated from academy 14 months ago, are expected to recover.

He also called on Monday for civic leaders to stop "fanning flames of hatred" as America grapples with civil unrest in wake of police brutality, saying those with such a platform should emphasize trust in criminal justice system.

Villanueva's comments to Associated Press came less than 48 hours after two deputies were shot in an apparent ambush in Compton, California — an area in South Los Angeles that has long been a flashpoint in fight against racial inequality and has become focus of protests in recent weeks after authorities fatally shot two young men of color.

Anti-police rhetoric followed injured deputies Saturday to hospital, where a handful of protesters gared outside. Videos from scene recorded at least one person in crowd yelling, "I hope y ... die."

Josie Huang, a reporter for public radio station KPCC, was taken into custody during demonstration. sheriff's department later tweeted that reporter interfered with arrest of a male protester.