Officer Involved Shooting in Van Nuys NRF084-15ne

November 5, 2015 UPDATE The officers involved in the below incident have been identified as Police Officer II Zackary Goldstein, Serial No. 39442 and Andrew Hacoupian, Serial No. 39276.

**The following information is based on a preliminary, 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 incident may change as the investigation continues and additional evidence is collected and analyzed.**

Los Angeles: On October 3, 2015 around 11:36 p.m., Van Nuys patrol officers were stopped at a traffic light, waiting to make a turn onto Victory Boulevard from Sepulveda Boulevard. Suddenly the rear window of their patrol car exploded. Both officers believed that they were being fired upon, verbalized that to each other and exited their vehicle. Their attention was drawn to a suspect who was standing on Sepulveda Boulevard immediately to the rear of the black and white police vehicle. The officers stated that the individual was pointing his hand towards them at above waist level holding an unknown dark object. Taken together with the other circumstances the officers believed this individual posed an imminent threat to them. At that time, an officer involved shooting occurred.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced the suspect dead at scene. No officers were injured during this incident.

A civilian eyewitness to the officer involved shooting has been interviewed by Force Investigation Division investigators and has provided an account of the suspect’s actions that is consistent with him throwing an object from very close range at the rear of the police vehicle. At this time, Force Investigation Division is asking for any additional witnesses to contact them.

A broken glass bottle was located in the back seat of the black and white police vehicle. At this time it is believed that this bottle was used to shatter the rear window of the police car. As this investigation continues, there will be further analysis of the evidence collected.

Force Investigation Division investigators responded to the incident and are conducting a thorough investigation of the officer involved shooting. The police department is not in a position to answer many of the questions the public and media outlets are asking at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. We always strive to provide as much information about these serious incidents as we can without violating the rights of the involved officers and witnesses and without jeopardizing the objectivity of the use of force investigation. We ask for the public’s patience as this thorough investigation continues.

The Los Angeles Police Department is not able to release the name of the involved suspect, as that responsibility and authority rests with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. The Coroner’s Office traditionally releases the names of decedents only after notifying their next of kin. The involved officers’ names will be released by the police department upon completion of a threat assessment.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Departments 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.

After the investigation is complete and has been adjudicated, the results will be published by the Board of Police Commissioners. This process often takes months to complete given the painstaking investigation, collection of evidence and analysis that accompanies all use of force investigations.

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.