Officer Involved Shooting in 77th Area

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, October 11, 1998
On October 10, 1998, at approximately 3:30 p.m., two 77th Area patrol officers were deployed on the northwest corner of Manchester Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. The officers’ post was part of a perimeter in the area due to a possible robbery in the 1000 block West Manchester Blvd.

An individual on a bicycle approached the officers who advised the rider to redirect his route of travel in an attempt to keep the individual from riding into the ongoing tactical operation. The bicyclist refused to obey the officers’ warnings and instead became belligerent repeatedly threatening to kill the officers while displaying a knife under his shirt.

Due to the suspect’s behavior, the officers requested assistance, and two additional 77th Area patrol officers responded on foot to their location, and joined in the verbal commands to the suspect in an attempt to subdue him. The suspect refused to comply with the numerous commands given by the officers. The suspect removed a large knife from his waistband area, raised the knife and moved towards one of the officers. The officer, fearing for his life fired one round from his service pistol critically wounding the suspect.

Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced the suspect dead at the scene.

The officers were not injured as a result of this incident and the knife was recovered at the scene.

The suspect’s identification is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin.

Robbery Homicide Division in conjunction with 77th Area detectives are conducting the investigation. Lieutenant Don Hartwell, Robbery Homicide Division, was in charge at the scene.

Prepared by Sergeant II Willie Guerrero, Assistant Officer-in-Charge, Media Relations Section.

For Release 11:30 am PST
October 12, 1998