Officer Involved Shooting at Nickerson Gardens

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, September 23, 1999
On September 22, 1999, at approximately 8:55 P.M., Southeast Area uniformed Officers McMahon, 5 years with the Department, and Coughlin, 4 years with the Department, were handling a call for service within Nickerson Gardens. While completing the call for service, the officers heard the sound of numerous rounds being fired just north of their location.

The officers proceeded to the sound of the gunfire and observed suspect #1, a male Black, wearing a white T-shirt armed with a handgun; and suspect #2, a male Black, wearing dark pants, armed with an assault rifle, firing into a single unit apartment complex. The officers identified themselves and ordered the suspects to drop their weapons. The suspects failed to comply and began firing their weapons at the officers. The officers, fearing for their lives, returned fire. Suspect #1 disappeared from the officers’ view and fled in an unknown direction.

The officers pursued suspect #2 to the area of 1400 E. 11th Street while broadcasting a help call. At this point, suspect #2 entered a parked vehicle. Officer McMahon deployed to the rear of the vehicle and identified himself as a police officer and ordered the suspect to place his hands outside of the vehicle. The suspect, armed with an assault rifle, turned in the direction of the officer. Officer McMahon, again fearing for his life, fired several rounds at the suspect, striking the suspect in the upper torso. The suspect started his vehicle and proceeded eastbound on 111th Street, where, after a short distance, he lost control of his vehicle and collided with a parked vehicle and came to a stop. The officers arrested the suspect without further incident. Suspect #1 was arrested a short distance away by responding units.

Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene and transported suspect#2 to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Suspect #2’s weapon was recovered at the scene. A follow up investigation determined that the suspects were involved in the murder of an individual who resides at 1350 E. 111th Pl.

Robbery Homicide Division is conducting the investigation.

For Release 2:30 pm PST
September 23, 1999