Officer-Involved Shooting in Foothill Division NRF005-24bb

UPDATE
February 23, 2024 NRF005-24rc

The officer involved in the below incident has been identified as Police Officer II Marc Rios, Serial No. 44947, assigned to Foothill Division.

**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:  The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in Foothill Division.

On February 16, 2024, at around 7:50 a.m., Foothill Division officers responded to a radio call of a Restraining Order Violation at a residence in the 13200 block of Paxton Street. The comments of the call indicated the Person Reporting (PR) had a restraining order against her husband, and he was at the location.

Once officers arrived, they met with a witness in the front yard who directed the officers to a back house on the property. There, officers met with the PR who confirmed the suspect, later identified as 52-year-old Pete Garcia, was inside. The officers approached the front door of the rear property and asked Garcia to step out of the location, Garcia refused.  

The officers verbalized with Garcia for several minutes before making entry. While the officers were attempting to detain him, a physical struggle ensued. During the struggle, Garcia produced a pistol from his front waistband area and pointed it in the officers’ direction. Simultaneously, one of the officers TASED Garcia. Garcia then fired one round from his pistol at the officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting. Garcia was not struck by gunfire. He was brought down to a bed, where he was taken into custody without further incident.

Garcia was later transported by Fire Department ambulance to a local hospital where he was treated for unrelated medical issues.  Garcia was subsequently booked and charged for 187(A)PC – Attempt Murder on a Police Officer and is being held on $2,080,000 bail.

Garcia’s gun was determined to be a Polymer pistol (Ghost Gun). It was recovered at scene and booked as evidence.

The officer involved in the shooting was transported to a nearby hospital where was treated for an injury to his left hand that he sustained during the incident and was later released.

It was later determined that the officer’s injury was likely caused by a round fired by Garcia that impacted a metal bed frame and the ricocheted fragments struck and impaled the officer’s hand.

No other community members were injured as a result of this incident.

Force Investigation Division (FID) investigators responded to the scene and are investigating this incident. Representatives from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Crimes Against Peace Officers Section (CAPOS) also responded to the scene.