Man Armed with an Assault Rifle Confronts Officers NR10472rh

Los Angeles: LAPD officers stopped a car taken two days earlier at gun point in the North Hollywood area.  The suspect ignored the officer’s commands and got out of the car holding an assault rifle.

On September 28, 2010, around 4:30 p.m., three police officers assigned to Rampart Community Police Station were working in an unmarked car wearing full police uniforms.  The officers were in the area of North Union Avenue and West Court Street when they observed a silver Honda Accord, being driven by a male White.  The officers’ attention was drawn to the car at which time the officers decided to run a wants and warrants check on the car.  The check on the car returned “wanted armed and dangerous”.

The officers followed the car, as they requested a back-up and support from an air unit.  The suspect, Jack Schlesinger, 25-years of age from Los Angeles, proceeded to drive northbound on Union Avenue to Montezuma Place where he turned eastbound.  Before additional police units were able to arrive, Schlesinger stopped the car in a common parking area for several duplexes in the 1600 block of Temple Street.  The officers stopped their car behind him and ordered him to come out of the car with his hands up and to lie on the ground.  Schlesinger ignored the commands and got out of the car holding an assault rifle.  At that point an officer involved shooting (OIS) occurred, in which Schlesinger was struck by the officers’ gunfire.  

Schlesinger was pronounced dead at scene by LAFD Paramedics.  The officers were not injured.

A loaded high caliber assault rifle with a large capacity magazine and a loaded revolver were recovered at scene.

The two officers involved in the OIS are: Officer John Hendrix, with eight years and one month with the Department, and Officer Shawn Graber, with three years and two months with the Department.

LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is investigating the officer involved shooting.