Officer Involved Shooting in Harbor Division

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, April 3, 2000

"Officer involved shooting in Harbor Area"

San Pedro-On April 3, 2000, at approximately 6:50 a.m., Harbor Area officers responded to a radio call of a stabbing that just occurred at 1307 Park Western Drive. Shortly after the officers’ arrival they observed the suspect inside a gated schoolyard carrying a large knife. As officers attempted to gain entry to the schoolyard, the suspect fled on foot and eluded the officers’ pursuit. A perimeter was immediately established and minutes later the suspect was observed running in a residential area. The officers engaged the suspect in a short foot pursuit and observed him enter a rear yard in the 1000 block of Via Navarra.

Several officers confronted the suspect in the yard and observed him still carrying the large knife. The suspect was ordered to drop his knife but he refused to comply. A beanbag shotgun was deployed and several rounds were fired at the suspect. The beanbag rounds struck the suspect but he continued to maintain control of his knife. A TASER was also deployed against the suspect but it malfunctioned. At this time, the suspect while still armed, walked toward the officer who was attempting to deploy the TASER. Fearing for the officer’s safety, a Harbor Area sergeant fired several rounds at the suspect with his service pistol.

The suspect was struck in the upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics. No officers were injured during this incident. The suspect’s knife was recovered at the scene.

It was later confirmed that the suspect had stabbed his 32-year-old girlfriend and her 15-year-old son. Both victims were transported to a local hospital and treated for serious stab wounds to their upper bodies. The 32-year-old female’s condition was listed as stable; however, her 15-year-old son remains in critical condition.

Robbery Homicide Division is conducting the investigation.

For further information contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

For Release 11:00 am PST
April 4, 2000