Gunmen Shootout, Interrupted

Los Angeles: Officers assigned to Southeast Detectives, in an unmarked vehicle drove up on a gunfight.

On Monday, October 10, 2006, at 4:40 p.m., officers were westbound on 108th Street approaching Stanford Avenue. As they approached Stanford Avenue, two gunmen on foot were firing either at each other or towards unknown victims south of 108th Street. The officers confronted the gunmen as one of them ran northbound. The other, later identified as Jerome Stephens, Jr., turned on the officers while holding a handgun, leading to an officer involved shooting. Stephens fell to the ground critically wounded and was taken into custody. A subsequent extensive search, failed to locate the other gunman.

Stephen was taken to a local hospital and was listed in critical condition. Stephens will face charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW) on a Police Officer and ADW on John Doe victims.

The Officers are Detective Todd Burns, 40, 11 years, 7 months with the Department and Police Officer Timo Illig, 30, 3 years, 5 months with the Department, assigned to Southeast Detectives.

Force Investigation Division is investigating both officer-involved shootings. For further information, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.