Armed Robbery Turns Deadly for Suspect

 
Los Angeles: Earlier today, a 45 year-old armed robbery suspect was shot and killed by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Metropolitan Division officers, after the suspect shot at officers as they were deploying around a residence where the suspect had been seen.
At approximately 2:00 P.M., this afternoon, LAPD officers assigned to Devonshire Patrol Division responded to a report of an armed robbery that occurred at a convenience store, located in the 9100 block of Van Nuys Boulevard. During the course of their investigation, information regarding the suspect was attained. This information led the officers to a residence in the 13000 block of Hoyt Street in Foothill Area. The officers arrived at the location and began to set up a perimeter. Shortly thereafter the suspect was observed entering a white Pinto, about to leave the location. The suspect saw the officers and raced toward one of the black and white police vehicles. The suspect’s vehicle missed the officers, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, and rammed into the police vehicle. A vehicular pursuit ensued, with the suspect using City streets in an attempt to elude the officers. During the course of the pursuit, the suspect was seen throwing money out of the vehicle. The suspect, on numerous occasions, fired several rounds at the pursuing ground officers and the airship. The officers did not return fire. One of the police vehicles was struck by gunfire in the area of the overhead light bar. Fortunately for the officers in that police vehicle, they were not struck by gunfire.
At some point, the suspect drove the vehicle to a residence in the 12900 block of Pierce Street, where he abandoned the vehicle and ran into the front yard and onto the porch of the residence. After allegedly being denied access to the inside of the residence by the resident [a friend], the suspect stayed in the area of the front porch, constantly moving in and out of view of on scene officers. Metropolitan Division officers were called to the scene to assist. As Metropolitan Divisions officers were in the process of deploying around the location, the suspect, armed with two pistols [a semiautomatic and a .38 caliber], fired rounds at two Metropolitan Division officers who at the time were in front of the residence. Officer Douglas Dingman (Serial No. 25222, 42 years old, 16 years with the Department), assigned to Metropolitan Division, was fearful for his safety and that of his partner’s. Dingman returned fire at the suspect, striking the suspect. Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the suspect to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On a side note: An elderly female at the location complained of chest pains. She was transported by paramedics to a local hospital for treatment. Another male at the location was questioned and later released by police.
Two guns were recovered at the scene. It is believed that the gun, used by the suspect to fire at the officers at the Pierce Street location, was the same gun that was taken by the suspect from the security guard at the convenience store, during the armed robbery where an undisclosed amount of cash was also stolen.
Fortunately, no officers and/or innocent bystanders were injured as a result of this incident. Robbery Homicide and Critical Incident Investigation Divisions are conducting investigations into this incident.
This release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank, Officer in Charge, Media Relations Section, 213-485.3586.