Search for Armed Man Ends in Officer Involved Shooting

Los Angeles:   A 911 call alerted police officers in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Foothill Division to a man threatening his family with a gun and firing shots into the air.  

On January 1, 2009, at about 20 minutes after midnight, emergency operators received a report of a man threatening his family with a gun and firing shots into the air at a residence in the 14100 block of Terra Bella Street.  Responding officers surrounded the property, which is described as a single family residence with a detached and converted garage.  Several occupants were safely evacuated from both the primary residence and the detached living space.  When searching the detached structure, officers encountered the armed suspect in the attic crawl space, and an officer involved shooting occurred.  A handgun has been recovered from the scene.           

Paramedics pronounced the suspect dead at the scene.  He has been identified as 41-year-old Saul Soriano.  Based on preliminary information, it is believed that the suspect is the estranged former spouse of a tenant in the primary residence.   During the subsequent search warrant service, Force Investigation Division detectives discovered an improvised, homemade explosive device inside the suspect’s vehicle along with several additional firearms.  Personnel from the bomb squad responded and detonated the device.  Detectives from the LAPD Criminal Conspiracy Section responded and are handling the investigation related to the destructive device.
    
The involved officers are Sergeant II Robert Gasior, 16 years, 3 months with the Department; Police Officer II Jose Mendoza, 6 years, 9 months with the Department; and Police Officer II Genaro Estupinan, 3 years, 5 months with the Department.

LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is responsible for conducting the investigation into the officer involved shooting.

Persons with information related to this incident are requested to call the 24 hour tip line at 1-877 LAPD 24-7  (1-877-527-3247).   Those wishing to remain anonymous may use their cellular phones and text to “CRIMES” or by logging on to www.lapdonline.org and clicking on “webtips.”  When using a cell phone always begin the text portion of the message with the letters LAPD.  Texting or internet tips provided in this manner are anonymous.