Officer-Involved Shooting in Foothill Division NRF004-22ma

February 10, 2022      NRF004-22bb

UPDATE

The officers involved in the below incident have been identified as Foothill Patrol Division Police Officer III Jesus Martinez, Serial No. 37593 and Police Officer II Kyle Griffin, Serial No. 42066.

**The following information is based on a preliminary and 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 may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) in Foothill Division.

On February 1, 2022, around 2:15 a.m., officers responded to a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon Suspect” at a residence in the 12900 block of Desmond Street. The comments of the call indicated a family member, later identified as 23-year-old Jonathon Murrillo-Nix, was at the residence and was possibly under the influence of narcotics and armed with a knife. When the officers arrived, they evacuated family members from inside the residence.

Around 3:40 a.m., Murrillo-Nix exited from the side of the residence armed with two knives. An officer fired a foam projectile from a 40mm less-lethal launcher at Murrillo-Nix. He continued to the front of the house, and an officer fired three beanbag rounds at Murrillo-Nix. He continued in the direction of officers, at which time, there was an Officer-Involved Shooting. Murrillo-Nix was struck by gunfire. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The knives Murrillo-Nix was armed with were recovered at the scene.

No officers were injured during the incident.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures. Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who responded to the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation, evidence collected, and witness statements to determine if the force used by the officer was reasonable.