Domestic Violence Incident Turns Deadly

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, June 25, 1999
On Friday, June 25, 1999, at approximately 12:10 A.M., Van Nuys uniformed patrol officers responded to an "Assault With a Deadly Weapon, Domestic Violence, suspect armed with a knife" call at an apartment complex located on the 7400 block of Sepulveda Boulevard. Upon the officers arrival, they were met by a female victim who had sought refuge at a neighbor’s apartment, and related to the officers that she had been attacked by her husband who was armed with a kitchen knife. The victim who had visible injuries to her head indicated that the suspect was inside a ground floor apartment. After receiving this information, responding police officers and a supervisor, conducted a follow-up as to the suspect’s whereabouts.

The officers responded to the ground floor apartment and deployed in a narrow hallway outside the front door. The suspect charged out of the apartment armed with a shiny pointed object and lunged at one of the officers who was armed with a less than lethal shotgun. This officer fired one bean bag round in an attempt to stop the suspect’s advancement. However, the bean bag did not have an effect in stopping his advancement and the suspect who was still armed with the object continued his assault upon this officer. The officer’s partner, fearing his partner was about to be stabbed and in defense of the officer’s life, fired one round from his service pistol striking the suspect in the upper body.

Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics responded and pronounced the suspect dead at the scene. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic in his mid 40’s. His identity has not been released pending notification to next of kin.

None of the officers were injured as a result of this incident.

The suspect’s weapon was recovered at the scene and determined to be a metal ball point pen.

The paramedics examined the female victim at the scene and transported her to a local hospital where she was treated for contusions to her head and body and released.

Robbery Homicide Division in conjunction with Van Nuys Area Detectives is conducting the investigation.

For Release 1:40 pm PST
June 25, 1999