Officers Targeted by Gunman In Watts

Los Angeles: Southeast Area officers on patrol in Watts shot at a suspect who pointed a handgun at them Friday.

The incident is the fourth armed assault in six days on LAPD officers in south Los Angeles.

On May 26, 2006, around 10:40 p.m., Police Officer Peter Bueno, 31, and his partner, Officer Christopher Reza, 31, were responding to a shooting call in the 10300 block of Wilmington Avenue. As they drove south on Graham Avenue, they saw three suspects with a rifle cross Graham Avenue toward 105th Street.

When officers drove east on 105th Street, the first suspect, a juvenile, tossed the rifle over a fence into a vacant lot. A second suspect, Monte Parker, ran east on the north sidewalk, holding a pistol in his hand. The third suspect ran west to an unknown location.

Officers stopped and exited their patrol car on 105th Street, as Parker turned and pointed his handgun at them. Officer Bueno responded by firing his service revolver at the armed suspect. The suspect was not hit. Parker then ran north through the houses. A subsequent K-9 search located him hiding in an attic in the 10400 block of Graham Avenue. He was taken into custody without further incident.

The juvenile suspect immediately surrendered at the scene. No one was injured in the shooting. Police recovered a 9mm Carbine rifle and .45 caliber Glock pistol at the scene.

Monte Parker, 20, of Los Angeles, was booked on assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. The juvenile was booked on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

Officer Bueno is a 9-year veteran of the LAPD. He and his partner are assigned to Southeast Area Police Station.

Force Investigation Division is in charge of the shooting investigation. All LAPD officers face a rigorous review process after incidents involving lethal use of force.