Officer-Involved Shooting in Van Nuys NR12556ne

Los Angeles: On Saturday, December 1, 2012, at around 8:00 p.m., LAPD Van Nuys Area Patrol officers were responding to a radio call “Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Suspect with a Knife” at Saticoy Street & Tobias Avenue (alley to the rear). When the officers arrived they were directed to the alley where they saw 18 year-old, Jeovany Mendoza holding his girlfriend with a knife to her neck. The victim was in obvious distress and the officers ordered Mendoza to drop the knife. Mendoza refused to comply and threatened to kill her. Fearing for the victims’ life, Police Officer Eric Avendano engaged Mendoza and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Mendoza was struck by the gunfire and fell to the ground.

The Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced Mendoza at the scene. The victim was treated for lacerations to her hand and released. No officers were injured.

The knife, with approximately an 8 inch blade, used by Mendoza was recovered at scene.

Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the incident and will be handling the investigation of the officer-involved shooting.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the 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.