Gunman Fires On, Misses Officers

Los Angeles: A fleeing suspect shot at Los Angeles police officers Monday night, during a foot pursuit in the Green Meadow area of Los Angeles.

On May 15, 2006, around 10:00 p.m., officers assigned to the Newton Area station received calls of a group disturbing the peace, and a man with a gun, in the 200 block of West 65th Street. When officers arrived, they saw a cluster of people in the alley behind 65th Street. Among them was a man matching the armed suspect’s description. The officers saw the suspect scale a fence bordering the alley and chased him.

At one point during the foot pursuit, the suspect drew a gun, aimed and shot at the officers. Neither officer was hit, and Police Officer III Frank Diaz, an 11-year LAPD veteran, returned fire. The suspect, 34-year-old Romie Turner, of Los Angeles, threw down his weapon and continued running.

Officer Diaz captured Turner on the street in front of 208 West 66th Street, where he was handcuffed and taken into custody without further incident. Police recovered Turner’s gun.

While Officer Diaz suffered minor injuries during the chase, no one was injured in the shooting.

Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.