Carjacker Shot As He Attempts to Run Down Several Police Officers

"Carjacker Shot as he Attempts to Run-Down Several
Police Officers with Stolen SUV"
 

Los Angeles – On Sunday, March 4, 2001, at approximately 7:15 p.m., 77th Street Area Officers Christopher Mason (Serial No. 32385, 29 years of age, 5 years with the Department) and Joseph Goosby (Serial No. 35124, 23 years of age, 2 years with the Department) were assigned to patrol unit 12X11. The officers were informed, via their police radio, that a Culver City Police unit was following a carjacking suspect in their vicinity and requesting a backup. The officers observed the Culver City Police unit following a stolen GMC Yukon in 77th Street Area. They joined the following as the secondary unit. The suspect’s SUV accelerated and the Culver City Police unit activated its emergency lights and went in pursuit. The officers did the same as the secondary unit. The suspect’s vehicle subsequently fled north on Normandie Avenue then turned east on Vernon Avenue with Culver City and LAPD patrol units in pursuit.
East of Normandie on Vernon Avenue, the suspect turned the stolen vehicle he was driving to face the pursuing officers (west in the eastbound lanes). The suspect then accelerated toward the officers patrol unit and rammed the front of the Culver City Police vehicle, causing extensive damage. LAPD Officers Mason and Goosby stopped behind the Culver City Police vehicle and the suspect then rammed the front of their LAPD patrol car. The suspect continued to accelerate the GMC Yukon as he struck Mason and Goosby’s patrol car.
Fearing the suspect was attempting to kill them, Officers Goosby and Mason fired multiple rounds at the suspect with their LAPD service pistols. Culver City Police Officers also fired rounds at the suspect. Attempting to flee, the suspect turned north on Normandie from Vernon Avenue and collided with several cars. The suspect then stopped and fled on foot.
A perimeter was established and a K-9 search resulted in the suspect’s apprehension. The suspect had been wounded and was transported by paramedics to LA County USC Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition. No officers were injured. At the time this press release was prepared, the suspect had not yet been identified and is described only as a male African-American, approximately 20 years of age. A handgun was recovered from the street, near the stolen GMC Yukon.
Robbery Homicide Division is handling the investigation.
This press release was prepared by Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.