Officer-Involved Shooting in Wilshire Division – NRF026-22bb

June 24,2022

UPDATED

The officers involved in the incident below has been identified as Police Officer III Arshavir Shaldjian, Serial No. 38710 and Police Officer II Denis Arevalo, Serial No. 42789, Hollywood Patrol Division.

June 19, 2022                                                                                                           NRF026-22bb

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

On June 17, 2022, at around 9:20 a.m., Hollywood Division patrol officers responded to a radio call in Wilshire Division of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon suspect who pointed a gun at construction workers. When officers arrived at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, they located the suspect who produced a handgun and fired at the officers, resulting in an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS). The suspect ran west on Beverly Boulevard into the middle of the street and stopped, turned back and fired at the officers again, resulting in a second OIS. The suspect then ran north to the 300 block of Detroit Street, where he stopped, placed the gun on the porch and laid down. The officers requested additional resources, formulated a plan and took the suspect into custody without further incident.

The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old John Blocker, a resident of Los Angeles, was transported to a local hospital where he received treatment for a gunshot wound to the arm.

No officers, victims, or bystanders were injured during this incident.

Blocker’s loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered at scene and will be booked as evidence.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division.

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. Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who responded to the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation, evidence collected, and witness statements to determine if the force used by the officer was reasonable.