Officer-Involved Shooting in Southeast Division NRF027-24bb

May 22, 2024 NRF027-24ma

UPDATE

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the Acting Chief of Police authorized the release of the officers’ names who were involved in an Officer-Involved Shooting that occurred on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Southeast Area. The involved Southeast Area officers are Police Officer II Stefan Carutasu, Serial No. 45218 and Police Officer II Dominique Billew, Serial No. 45301.

**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 (OIS) that occurred in Southeast Division.

On May 19, 2024, around 6:40 p.m., Southeast Patrol Division uniformed officers responded to a radio call in the 100 block of West Colden Avenue, for a report of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon suspect. The individual, later identified as 42-year-old Wilver Blanco, was reported to be armed with a knife in the roadway, possibly under the influence of narcotics and chasing an elderly male at the location.

When the officers arrived to the area of the call, they found Blanco standing behind a vehicle parked on the street holding a knife in his right hand. The officers stopped their vehicle, deployed behind their respective doors and ordered Blanco multiple times to drop his knife. Blanco ignored the officers’ commands and climbed onto the rear bumper of the parked vehicle. While still gripping the knife in his right hand, Blanco then stepped off the bumper, assumed a crouched position and ran toward the passenger officer, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting.

Blanco was struck by gunfire and was taken into custody without further incident. Officers rendered medical aid to Blanco until the arrival of Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, who after assuming care, transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Notifications to the next of kin were conducted by representatives from the Family Liaison Section.

No officers or other community members were injured during this incident. An 8 ½ inch folding knife with a 3 ½ inch blade was recovered at scene.

Force Investigation Division (FID) investigators responded to the scene and are investigating this incident.