LAPD Officers Assaulted

August 2, 2007

Los Angeles: Today Assistant Chiefs Jim McDonnell and Earl Paysinger along with Deputy Chief Kenny Garner and detectives from Robbery Homicide and Force Investigation Divisions highlighted three separate shooting incidents which occurred earlier this morning.

“Last night’s shootings involving Los Angeles police officers underscore the dangers officers face daily,” said Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell. ”

In a time span of just three hours, officers were fired upon in two separate incidents, and were involved in an officer-involved shooting after responding to a radio call.

The first assault on LAPD officers occurred at 1:15 AM at 8th Street and Cloverdale Avenue. Motor officers working out of West Traffic Division saw a car speeding and being driven erratically. The officers followed the car for several blocks when finally it stopped. Three people got out, two men and one female. A male suspect, armed with a gun began shooting at the officers, while the other occupants ran. A perimeter was immediately established and one suspect was quickly taken into custody. The other two suspects were later arrested during a search of the area.

One of the suspects was identified as Roy Ramos, 26, of Los Angeles, who is a member of the Eastside Wilmas street gang in the Harbor area. Two firearms were recovered at the scene.

Ramos was booked for attempted murder on a police officer, a second suspect was arrested for possession of a firearm, and a third was arrested for pimping.

The second call of shots fired on LAPD officers came two hours later, in the 8600 block of Columbus. When they arrived, officers saw a suspect who matched the information they had gotten on the police radio. As the officers began to approach, the suspect fired several rounds at them. The suspect then ran from the area. A perimeter was established but the suspect was never located. He is described as a male Hispanic, 5’6” to 5’9”, 180 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

The third incident happened at 4:26 AM in the 3900 block of Moore Street in the Venice area. An officer was responding to a radio call of a man loitering. The officer arrived and was directed to a dark colored SUV. Inside the vehicle was a man who appeared to be asleep. The officer noticed a rifle lying on the floorboard of the SUV and radioed for backup units. When other officers arrived, they knocked on the window. Preliminary information indicated that the man tried to grab the rifle. An officer-involved shooting occurred.

The suspect was shot in the forearm, taken to a local hospital for treatment and was later released. Inside his SUV detectives recovered a BB rifle.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detectives Greg Stearns and Victor Pietrantoni of Robbery Homicide Division Special Section, at (213) 485-2129. During off-hours and on the weekends call 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).