Officer-Involved Shooting Occurs After Felony Evading Suspect Points Pellet Gun, Resembling a .45 Ca

"Officer-Involved Shooting Occurs After Felony Evading Suspect Points Pellet Gun, Resembling a .45 Caliber, at Officers"
 
Southeast Area: On October 16, 2002, shortly after midnight, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers assigned to Southeast Community Police Station, attempted to make a traffic stop of a vehicle in the area of Manchester Boulevard and Main Street. The driver of the vehicle, a new Toyota Camry with paper plates, refused to stop and instead, engaged the officers in a pursuit, traversing multiple freeways. During the course of the pursuit, the suspect was observed pointing, what at the time appeared to be, a gun, to his head. At one point during the pursuit, he also pointed the weapon at the pursuing officers. The pursuit was discontinued but was later resumed, by a different unit, due to the egregious nature of the suspect’s actions. The vehicular pursuit, lasting approximately 57 minutes, ended in the area of Florence Avenue and State Street, in the City of Huntington Park, when the suspect failed to stop for the red phase of a tri-light traffic signal and collided with another vehicle carrying three occupants. The collision caused one of the occupants of the vehicle to be ejected. That victim was transported to a local hospital and her condition is unknown at this time. The remaining two occupants were also transported to a local hospital, by paramedics, for treatment of less serious injuries.
After the collision, the suspect exited his vehicle and ran from the location, closely pursued by the officers in their vehicle. While running, the suspect turned and pointed, what appeared to be a .45 caliber gun, at the officers. Officers Charles Hicks (Serial No. 32548, 34 years old, 6 years with the Department) and Andrew Moody (Serial No. 32390, 39 years old, 6 ½ years with the Department) both became fearful for their lives and an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. His injuries are not life threatening. His true identity has not been determined at this point. He is approximately 32 years old. He will be booked for Assault With a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer. Additional charges are pending.
No officers were injured. The weapon used by the suspect was recovered and was later determined to be a pellet gun, resembling a .45 caliber gun. The vehicle driven by the suspect was reported stolen two weeks ago.
Please direct all further inquiries regarding this release to Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.
This release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank, Officer in Charge, Media Relations Section.