Officers Witness Shooting in Progress

Los Angeles: On Saturday, January10, 2004 at about 4:00 p.m., Newton Patrol Officers Joseph Osegura, 30 years of age, 8 years with the Department, and Ricky Crowder, 23 years of age, 11 months with the Department, were driving north on Woodlawn Avenue approaching 41st Place. The officers saw a white van driving north, through the intersection of Woodlawn Avenue and 41st Place. The officers then saw two male Hispanics, later identified as Chester Gonzales, 20 years of age, and Victor Coria, 25 years of age, step onto the roadway. The suspects fired at the occupants of the van. The officers drew their service pistols and ordered the suspects to drop their weapons. The suspects refused to comply and continued firing at the occupants of the van. In immediate defense of the lives of the occupants of the van, the officers fired their pistols at the suspects. Both suspects dropped their weapons and surrendered. Gonzales sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and was transported to Los Angeles County USC Jail Ward where he was admitted for a non-life-threatening wound. Coria was uninjured. The officers were not injured.
Both of the suspects’ handguns were recovered at the scene. The van continued driving and was not found by responding officers.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Robbery-Homicide Division at 213-485-2511. On weekends and during off-hours, please call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer Sandra Escalante, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.