Suspect Who Aimed Rifle at Police Is Shot and Killed

Los Angeles: A man who pointed his rifle at police during a routine traffic stop was shot and killed by officers Friday night.

On July 28, 2006, around 9:30 p.m., 77th Area Officers Timothy Wunderlich and Gary Verge were conducting a traffic stop on 79th Street east of Broadway. The suspect, later identified as Esteban Pacheco, 41, was driving an older model white Jeep Cherokee. As the officers began their investigation, Pacheco, holding a rifle, stepped out of the vehicle’s driver seat and aimed in the officers’ direction. The police fired, resulting in an officer involved shooting.

Pacheco fell to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident. Los Angeles City Fire Paramedics arrived to render emergency medical aid, but Pacheco failed to respond to treatment and died at the scene.

The officers were not injured.

Pacheco’s weapon was an air rifle carbine replica equipped with an extended magazine.

Approximately three minutes after the shooting occurred, LAPD Communications Division broadcast to 77th Area officers that a citizen had reported being followed by a man with a shotgun in a truck. The suspect vehicle was described as a white Jeep, traveling in the vicinity of 79th Street and Broadway.

Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation. Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.