Officer Involved Shooting in Foothill NR13502ne

UPDATE

Updated:  The officer involved in the below incident has been identified as Police Officer J. Aguilera.

Los Angeles:  On Monday, November 11, 2013, around 2:25 p.m., Foothill Patrol Division Police Officers were assigned to a surveillance detail as a uniformed chase unit in a marked black and white police vehicle.  The surveillance detail was established after information was obtained that two gang members, who were involved in two prior incidents of assault with a deadly weapon using a handgun, were seen entering a residence in the 12900 block of Eustace Street.          

Three male Hispanics later identified as Pedro Ortega, Jonathan Jimenez and Josue. Toscano, exited the residence and entered a vehicle.  Officers were advised and responded as the chase unit to initiate contact with the suspects’ vehicle.  As they proceeded southbound on Borden Avenue, the suspects’ vehicle came to an abrupt stop with all three occupants exiting and fleeing on foot.  As one of the officers’ went to apprehend Jimenez, pulling him off a chain-linked fence, another officer observed Ortega and Toscano exit the front and rear passenger side doors, respectively.  That officer saw that Ortega was in possession of a handgun and gave chase to Ortega and Toscano.  The officer pushed Toscano to the ground and then observed Ortega turn toward him with the handgun in his hand.  The officer perceived the deadly threat and an officer involved shooting occurred.  Ortega was struck in the right lower arm.     

Ortega was taken into custody without further incident.  The Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and transported Ortega to a local hospital where he was treated for a single gunshot wound to his right forearm and was admitted.  Jimenez and Toscano were taken into custody with no further incident.  There were no officers injured during the incident.     

Force Investigation Division responded to the incident and will conduct a thorough investigation of the officer-involved shooting and the criminal investigations involving the prior “ADW” incidents and crimes against the officers.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy, which states that an officer’s use-of-force actions must be objectively reasonable.  

Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the facts of the officer-involved shooting.
 
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Force Investigation Division at 213-486-5230. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to www.LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.