Officer-Involved Shooting in Southeast Division NRF007-21wc

**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**

February 16, 2021

***UPDATE***

The police officer involved in the below incident has been identified as Southeast Area Police Officer II Carlos Tovar, Serial No. 43384.

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

On February 9, 2021, around 4:30 p.m., uniformed Southeast Patrol Division officers conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation in the northwest parking lot at Manchester Avenue and Figueroa Street. The driver officer stopped their patrol vehicle adjacent to the driver’s door of the suspect’s vehicle. The officers exited their vehicle and began giving commands to the driver.

The driver officer ordered the suspect to turn off the ignition, however, the driver did not comply. The driver accelerated the vehicle towards the partner officer who was standing at the front of the vehicle. The partner officer ordered the suspect to stop, however, the suspect continued driving towards him and an Officer-Involved Shooting occurred.

The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle. An air unit followed the suspect’s vehicle to a shopping center parking lot at Imperial Highway and Crenshaw Boulevard in the city of Inglewood. The suspect exited the vehicle and entered a nearby store. Officers searched the store, however, they were unable to locate the suspect. A review of surveillance video showed that the suspect changed clothing inside the store and escaped prior to the search.

No officers were injured during the incident and it does not appear the suspect was struck by gunfire.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division. A representative from the Office of the Inspector General responded and monitored the scene investigation.

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.