Officer-Involved Shooting in Newton Division NRF001-24ne

January 17, 2024

UPDATE: The officer involved in the below incident has been identified as Police Officer III Hector Valenzuela, Serial No. 40505, assigned to Rampart 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 that occurred in Newton Division.

On January 14, 2024 around 8:51 a.m., Rampart Division uniformed officers were in the area of 6th Street and Witmer Avenue, when they observed a blue Audi Sport Utility vehicle driving recklessly. The driver of that vehicle was later identified as Marc Gonzales. After following the vehicle for several blocks, the officers initiated a vehicle pursuit. During the pursuit, the officers were involved in a traffic collision with a light pole, lost sight of the vehicle and terminated the pursuit.

An Air Unit located the vehicle in the area of Pico Boulevard and San Pedro Avenue and shortly thereafter, a different Rampart unit began pursuing the vehicle. That pursuit terminated at Hooper Avenue and 12th Street when Gonzales lost control of the vehicle and collided into a curb. Gonzales immediately exited the vehicle holding a handgun. He began walking west on 12th Street toward an additional Rampart unit who arrived in the area. The officers ordered Gonzales multiple times to drop his handgun; however, he did not comply and raised the handgun, resulting in an officer-involved shooting. Gonzales was struck by gunfire and collapsed on the sidewalk. He was subsequently taken into custody without further incident.

The officers rendered aid to Gonzales until the arrival of Los Angeles Fire Department personnel. Gonzales was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

The initial pursuing officers that were involved in the traffic collision were not seriously injured. No other officers were injured during this incident. Prior to the OIS but during the pursuit, Gonzalez fired a round which struck a community member seated inside of a vehicle stopped at a traffic signal. The community member sustained a gunshot wound to his left thigh and was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released later that day.

A Glock 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun was recovered at scene.

The LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division personnel. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.