Officer-Involved Shooting in Hollenbeck NR14411jk

Los Angeles:  On September 17, 2014, around 5:30 p.m., uniformed officers from the Hollenbeck Area Gang Impact Team responded to a radio call for a suspect armed with a gun at the intersection of Marengo Street and State Street.  Citizens in the area directed officers to the suspect, who was later identified as Richard Morales, walking on the sidewalk.

Officers followed Morales on foot in an attempt to engage him verbally.  As Morales approached the 101 Freeway overpass at State Street, he suddenly turned towards officers while holding a black handgun and an OIS occurred.

Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics responded and transported Morales to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

A black replica semi-automatic handgun was recovered at scene and there were no officers injured during this incident.

Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division (FID) detectives responded to the incident and are conducting a thorough investigation of the officer-involved shooting.
 
The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, Office of the Inspector General and The 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 is asked 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 LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.