Officers Encounter Suspect with a Knife NR11356rh

UPDATEAugust 2, 2011The Hollenbeck officer involved in the below officer involved shooting has been identified as Police Officer II Miguel Ruano, who has been with the Department for 2 years and 10 months.

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Division patrol officers were searching for an escapee when they encountered a suspect later identified as 38-year-old Christopher Moreno with a knife.

On July 30, 2011, around 2:33 p.m., Hollenbeck Area officers responded to a radio call of an escapee in the vicinity of Echandia Street and Bridge Street.  When officers arrived it was determined that a private ambulance contracted by Los Angeles County had been transporting a recently released suspect to the University of Southern California Medical Center (USCMC) for medical treatment.  

While Moreno was being transported to the hospital he assaulted one of the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and then jumped out of the ambulance striking his head on the street.  Although injured, Moreno fled through the residential neighborhood on foot.  

Moreno was observed by responding officers at a local Church located in the 500 block of Echandia Street.  Moreno had armed himself with a piece of metal and failed to comply with officers’ commands to surrender.  Moreno forcibly pulled open a locked door of the church and entered.  A perimeter was established around the church and Metropolitan K9 officers responded.  During an extensive search of the multi room church, Moreno was located in a locked kitchen.  An officer forced entry into the kitchen where Moreno had armed himself with a large knife.  Moreno failed to obey several commands by the officers and charged the officers with the knife.  

One officer was armed with a beanbag shotgun and was able to fire at least one bean bag round at Moreno who continued to charge at the officer.  The officer was stabbed in the left arm at which point an officer involved shooting occurred.  

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and treated Moreno who was pronounced dead at the scene.  The injured officer was transported to USCMC where he was treated and released after several hours.  

Force Investigation Division (FID) detectives responded and are investigating the officer involved shooting.  The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy.  Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the facts of the officer-involved shooting.