Officers Ambushed at the Gates of Wilshire Station Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) Ensued NR13220bb

July 9, 2013

Updated

The officers involved in the below incident has been identified as Police Officers III Bernard Romero and Detective Humberto Tovar.

Los Angeles:  On June 25, 2013, around 4:34 a.m., West Bureau Surveillance Unit Detectives were returning to Wilshire Police Station, preparing to turn into the secured parking lot west of the station when they observed the suspect walking towards them on the sidewalk.  As the driver officer drove the vehicle up the sloping apron towards the key card reader to activate the parking lot security gate, the passenger officer continued to watch the suspect as he walked past the rear of their vehicle.  As the suspect passed the rear of the vehicle, he suddenly turned and fired a handgun at the officers and an officer involved shooting (OIS) ensued.  The suspect fled south across Venice Boulevard and then west towards Highland Avenue.

The driver officer sustained lacerations to his head and the passenger officer sustained lacerations to his hand.  Both officers were transported to a local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department rescue ambulance where they received medical treatment and were subsequently released.

Metropolitan Division SWAT and K-9 units responded and conducted a systematic search of the area and were unable to locate the suspect.  It is unknown whether the suspect was struck by the officers’ gunfire.

Force Investigation Division detectives responded and are investigating the OIS.  Robbery Homicide Division detectives responded and are investigating the crimes against the officers.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, 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 Robbery Homicide Division at (213) 486-6890. 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.