Rampart Division Officer Shoots at Suspect He Believes Is Armed With a Handgun NRF024-16ma

**The following information is based on a preliminary, ongoing investigation which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances of the incident may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: A man fleeing from LAPD Rampart Division officers reached for what the officer believed was a handgun in his waistband and began turning toward the pursuing officers. One of the officers fired his handgun but missed the suspect.

Around 11:05 p.m. on April 20, 2016, Rampart Division Police Officer Daniel Rodriguez and his two partners were in the area of Hyans Street and North Occidental Boulevard. The officers attempted to stop Alexis Ventura, who was riding a bicycle without a headlight during hours of darkness, a violation of the California Vehicle Code, when he fled initially on the bicycle and then on foot. Ventura ran westbound in an alley north of Hyans Street and the officers ran after him.

Officer Rodriguez, saw Ventura run through a hole in a chain link fence at the rear of a residence in the 2800 block of Hyans Street. As Officer Ventura looked through the hole in the fence, he saw Ventura look in his direction and reach for his waistband where Officer Rodriguez saw a shiny object, which he believed was a handgun. As Ventura reached for the object in his waistband, he turned toward the officer. Believing that Ventura was arming himself, Officer Rodriguez fired one round at Ventura. The round, however, missed Ventura and he was uninjured.

A perimeter was established and LAPD Metropolitan Division SWAT responded and conducted a search of the area. They found Venture inside of a vacant residence within the perimeter. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has filed one count of Resisting a Peace Officer, 69 PC. There was no handgun recovered during the search.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the scene and began interviewing witnesses and collecting forensic evidence. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police and the Board of Police Commissioners to determine whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures. In addition, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the incident to determine whether any of the officers’ actions violated California criminal statutes.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call LAPD’s 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) or send a text 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 www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”