Officer-Involved Shooting in Northeast Division – NRF035-23lr

August 17, 2023

• UPDATE

The officers involved in the below incident have been identified as:

• Police Officer III Daniel Frazer Serial No. 38392;
• Police Officer II David  Cervantes, Serial No. 44132;
• Police Officer II Alberto Rodriguez, Serial No. 43816;
• Police Officer II Steven Jimenez, Serial No. 43690;
• Police Officer II Jason Paniagua, Serial No. 44509;
• Police Officer II Christopher Kliebert, Serial No. 43292;
• Police Officer II Eric Schlesinger, Serial No. 43152; and
• Police Officer II Azatoui Akopian, Serial No. 44863, all assigned to Foothill Division.

August 11, 2023 

Officer-Involved Shooting in Northeast Division

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer–Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in Northeast Division.

On August 9, 2023, around 5:50 p.m., Foothill officers received multiple radio calls, ranging from a hit & run traffic collision to a reckless driver driving a Department of Water and Power (DWP) vehicle in the area of 10600 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard. When the officers arrived at scene, their preliminary investigation determined the crime committed was an Assault with a Deadly Weapon by vehicle and broadcast a vehicle description, as a white, full-size sport utility vehicle.

Responding officers searching the area located the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. The suspect, later identified as 28–year–old Manuel Ramirez, entered the 5 Freeway. During the pursuit, Ramirez collided with two non-involved vehicles. Ramirez failed to stop, continued on the road and exited at Colorado Boulevard. Upon exiting, Ramirez drove into a multi–unit business parking lot with no access to passage. Ramirez continued up a steep narrow driveway and rammed through a secured metal gate into a secondary parking lot. Ramirez conducted a U–turn, accelerated the vehicle towards officers and intentionally struck two occupied police vehicles and an uninvolved van that was occupied by a citizen. Ramirez’ vehicle came to a stop at Edenhurst Avenue north Colorado Street and as officers tactically approached an OIS occurred.

Ramirez failed to surrender and accelerated the vehicle towards officers which resulted in a second OIS. Ramirez continued to drive a short distance and the vehicle came to stop. Officers verbalized with Ramirez to surrender with no success. When he barricaded himself in the vehicle, the Special Weapons and Tactics team responded to the scene and took Ramirez into custody without further incident.

Ramirez was struck by gunfire during the OIS and he was transported by to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries. Ramirez was released and later booked for California Penal Code 245(C) – Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer, his bail was set at $152,000.00, Booking No. 6656610.

Three officers were injured during this incident. Two officers injured during the collision were treated at scene for their injuries. One officer was treated at a local hospital and has been released. The investigation revealed the DWP truck was determined to be an unreported stolen vehicle.

The LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division personnel. 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.