Hollenbeck Officer-Involved-Shooting in El Sereno NRF043-17cr

***UPDATE***

The officers involved in the incident below have been identified as Police Officer II Anthony Lanza, Serial No. 37644 and Police Officer I Jared Barahona, Serial No. 42427.

June 13, 2017

UPDATE On June 13, 2017, charges were filed against Defendant Pedro Echeverria with Hardcore Deputy District Attorney Ben Schwartz who agreed to file two additional cases, from incidents that occurred on May 19, 2017 and May 24, 2017. In total, Schwartz filed two counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer with a gun, two counts of active gang member with a gun. Schwartz also filed one count of possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, and one count of possession of methamphetamine, plus additional gang and gun enhancements.

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved-Shooting (OIS) that occurred in an El Sereno neighborhood early Thursday afternoon.

On June 8, 2017, around 3:16 p.m., uniformed Hollenbeck Area patrol police officers initiated a consensual encounter with a known local gang member (identified as Pedro Echeverria) on the 4400 block of Turquoise Street. During their encounter the officers observed a bulge underneath Echeverria’s clothing that they believed to be a handgun. Echeverria did not comply with the officer’s verbal commands and a physical altercation occurred. Echeverria then produced a hand gun, which resulted in an Officer-Involved-Shooting. Echeverria was struck by gunfire and taken into custody without further incident.

The Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics responded and transported Echeverria to the University of Southern California Medical Center (USCMC) where he underwent surgery and remained in the Intensive Care Unit.

In addition, a loaded semiautomatic handgun was recovered at scene, where Echeverria was detained.

Force Investigation Division is investigating the OIS and is also looking into another gun arrest Echeverria had a few weeks prior to this incident.

Fortunately, no officers were injured during this incident.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the scene and began interviewing witnesses and collecting forensic evidence. FID will also review and collect all available body worn and digital in car video. The Office of the Inspector General and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office had a representative at the scene.

The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police and the Board of Police Commissioners to determine whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office will also review the evidence collected during the investigation to determine whether any criminal laws were violated.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is urged to call the LAPD at any of the following numbers:

•During business hours at (213) 486-5230; •During non-business hours or on weekends at (877)-LAPD-24-7(877-527-3247); •Anonymously 24-hours a day to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or by texting “LAPD” and your tip to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S); or •Online at www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.