Officer-Involved Shooting in 77th with No Hits NR13006cn

January 9, 2013

Update:  The officers involved in this incident have been identified as Police Officer II Oscar Medina, Police Officer II Leo Guillen, Police Officer II Rodney Williams, and Police Officer II Vincent Henson.

Los Angeles: On January 1, 2013, at around 12:15 a.m., Criminal Gang and Homicide Division (CGHD) were working a gunfire suppression detail in 77th Street Area.

The officers heard gunfire coming from the rear of the 750 block of East 78th Street and tactically deployed on foot down the driveway from 78th Street. The officers observed suspect Gilbert Alan Silver III, armed with an assault rifle, fire one round into the air in an easterly direction. The officers ordered Silver to drop the weapon at which time he turned and ran towards the southwest corner of the property with the rifle. Suspect Silver while being pursued by officer Medina, pointed the weapon and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

Silver was not struck by the gunfire and fled into an adjacent residence at the 740 block of East 78th Street. A perimeter was established and an extensive search was conducted by CGHD and 77th Street officers. After about two hours, Silver exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. Neither Silver or the officers were injured.

Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the incident and will be handling the investigation of the officer-involved shooting.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, Office of the Inspector General and The Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy which states that an officer’s use-of-force actions must be objectively reasonable. 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.

Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at 213-486-5230. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.