Police Officer Shot in the Leg

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, September 7, 1999
On Monday, September 6, 1999, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Newton uniformed officers Mark Meyer, #30556 (29 years of age, 5 ½ years with the Department) and Richard Browning, #32827 (29 years of age, 3 ½ years with the Department) were conducting a narcotics investigation in an abandoned apartment building located at 111 E. 51st Street. The officers had received numerous citizen complaints about transients using narcotics at the location. The officers entered the rear of one of the vacant apartments where they were confronted by a suspect armed with a firearm. Officer Meyer ordered the suspect to drop the weapon and instead the suspect fired at Officer Meyer striking him in the right leg. Both officers in fear for Officer Meyer’s life returned fire. The suspect then pointed the weapon at Officer Browning who in fear of his life fired his pistol at the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Officer Meyer was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his right thigh and subsequently released and placed off duty for his injury. Officer Browning was not injured during the incident.

The suspect, a male Hispanic in his mid twenties, was treated by LAFD paramedics for gunshot wounds to his upper torso and failed to respond to treatment. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect’s small caliber weapon was recovered at the scene.

Robbery Homicide Division in conjunction with Newton Area Operations Support Division is conducting the investigation.

Lieutenant Don Hartwell, Robbery Homicide Division, was in charge at the scene.

For Release 3:50 pm PDT
September 7, 1999