Olympic Officers Respond to an Assault-with-a-Deadly-Weapon Call Suspect Shot by Officer NR11220mjg

Los Angeles:  On May 9, 2011, around 1:20 p.m., LAPD officers working patrol in the Olympic Area responded to an “ADW in Progress-Ambulance Cutting” radio call in the 1500 block of South Arapahoe Street in the Pico-Union area of Los Angeles.  When officers arrived they were met by 85 year-old, Maria Gonzalez who was screaming for help and suffering from an injury to her hand.
 
Ms. Gonzalez told officers that her grandson, 36-year old Hector Hernandez, walked into his mother, 60 year old Blanca Hernandez’s bedroom unannounced and cut her throat.  As he left the bedroom, he cut and injured his grandmother’s hand.  Ms. Gonzalez then ran downstairs and out the front door desperate for help.  

Officers entered the home to rescue the suspect’s mother and found her inside her bedroom, unresponsive and suffering from multiple stab wounds. They moved Hernandez outside in an effort to treat her.  A search of the home revealed the suspect was not inside.  As officers began searching the backyard they heard a scream coming from a rear guest house.  The officers were suddenly confronted by the suspect who had slashed his own throat and was bleeding. He charged at the four officers, each of whom shot at Hernandez one time, striking him in the abdomen and chest. The officers took the suspect into custody and immediately called for medical assistance. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
 
LAFD medical personnel who responded to the location also pronounced Blanca Hernandez dead at the scene.

Ms. Gonzalez, the suspect’s grandmother was transported to a local area hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

LAPD Olympic Area detectives are handling the investigation into the initial Homicide and LAPD Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the officer involved shooting.  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 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 about this incident is urged to call Olympic Area Detectives at 213-382-9381. 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 Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers 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.