Officer Victim of Drive-By Shooting

Los Angeles: In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 3, 2005, at about 2:50 a.m., patrol officers from Hollenbeck Division were conducting a carjacking investigation in a parking lot at Grande Vista, south of Olympic Boulevard.

As the officers were completing their investigation, a possible brown sedan was driving south on Grande Vista.  An unknown person from that vehicle fired one round into the group of officers.

Officer Rodolfo “Alex” Fuentes, Serial No. 31421, 32-years-old, 10 years with the Department, was struck in the hand.  Officer Fuentes was transported to a hospital where he is being treated for his injury.

No one else was injured at the location, however, as he was responding to the crime scene Commander Louis Gray, Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau was the victim of a “Hit and Run” traffic collision at Olympic Boulevard and Soto Street.  The suspect from that collision was eventually arrested and booked for Felony DUI and Felony Hit and Run.  Commander Gray was not seriously injured.  Investigators from Central Traffic Division are handling that investigation.

Chief William Bratton responded to the crime scene as well as newly elected Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  Chief Bratton said, “We will not accept police officers being shot at.  Every available resource will be utilized to apprehend these suspects.”

“Shooting at police officers is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the City of Los Angeles,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Robbery-Homicide Division is handling the investigation.  Anyone with information regarding the drive by shooting is urged to call Robbery Homicide Division, at 213-485-2511 or on weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).