DOWNEY >> Authorities believe a botched robbery attempt led to the shooting death of a Downey patrol officer, who was sitting in his personal car behind the police station in a public parking lot.

Sheriff’s Homicide Lt. John Corina said the two men and a 16-year-old boy arrested in connection with the shooting did not target Officer Ricardo Galvez because he was a policeman.

“They were out looking to rob someone,” he said.

The names of the men arrested were not released Thursday. Sheriff’s officials described the men only as a Hispanic male, 21, who was driving the car; and an 18-year-old Hispanic male. Investigators say the three men fled the scene after shooting into Galvez’s car with a revolver, then led police on a chase that ended in a Montebello neighborhood.

Video surveillance footage and statements made by the suspects led to their arrest, authorities said. A gun was also recovered.

Galvez, 29, was wearing street clothes, not his uniform, when the shooting occurred at 11 p.m. Wednesday in the west parking lot of the Downey police station at 10911 Brookshire Ave.

•Photos: Officer Ricardo Galvez memorialized

He was a five-year veteran of the department, Downey Police Chief Carl Charles said at a news conference at police headquarters Thursday.

“This morning I stand before you with a heavy heart,” Charles said. “It is with great sadness that I report one of Downey’s finest was shot and killed.”

“Ricky … was a tremendous young man, who loved serving the residents of Downey,” Charles said. “His smile was infectious, and his professionalism was always on display.”

Corina said Galvez was still on duty and was nearing the end of his shift when he was killed. However, it was not his normal shift, authorities said later in the day. He was apparently participating in a training with K-9 units about a mile away, then came back to the station.

Police said there was no struggle during the shooting; the officer was sitting in his car and the gunman fired immediately.

The suspects then got into a car and it sped off, Corina said. A Downey police officer in his patrol vehicle heard the shooting, went in pursuit of the car and chased it into the city of Montebello. The suspects then bailed out of the car, Corina said.

Corina said that as one Downey police officer launched a pursuit of the vehicle another Downey officer came outside and found the fatally wounded officer.

The assailants’ car ended up on Carob Way near Washington Boulevard in Montebello. The 21-year-old man believed to be the driver was caught immediately, he said, after trying to run through some residential backyards.

The other two suspects were seen fleeing into a nearby home. A sheriff’s SWAT unit ultimately went into the home and arrested them.

All three were booked on murder charges and are being held without bail.

Several police departments, including Irwindale, Montebello and San Bernardino police, tweeted out their condolences as news of Galvez’s slaying spread.

Galvez was a Marine Corps veteran who served two tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is survived by his mother, brother, sisters and numerous friends and colleagues, according to the police department.

He wasn’t married and didn’t have children, according to Corina.

Late Thursday morning, the officer’s body was transported from the crime scene to the coroner’s facility, escorted by a procession of police vehicles. A candlelight vigil was also planned Thursday evening at the police station.

Downey Police Department Lt. Mark McDaniel said at the noon press conference that “if you were to mold a police officer you would mold them after Ricky Galvez.”

“We have a lot of police officers who are here who are hurting,” McDaniel said.

Gov. Jerry Brown and other officials also paid tribute to the slain officer.

“Anne and I were saddened to learn of the death of Officer Galvez and extend our condolences to his family, friends and the entire law enforcement community in this difficult time,” the governor said.

The last time a Downey officer was killed in the line of duty was April 10, 1981, according to the Los Angeles County Peace Officers’ Memorial. Officers Steven Guthrie and Wayne Richard Presley stopped to assist a disabled big rig on Florence Avenue just west of Lakewood Boulevard when a car driven by a drunken 39-year-old woman from Norwalk slammed into both officers. Guthrie was tossed into the curb and sustained serious injuries. Presley was slammed into the back of the big rig and died at the scene.

Staff Writer Stephanie Baer and City News Service contributed to this report.