Police Interrupt Gang Shooting

Los Angeles: Two Los Angeles police officers interrupted a gang shooting last Friday night, February 16, 2007, near 89th Street and Central Avenue in South Los Angeles. One officer fired at an armed suspect after the suspect shot another man.

The incident occurred just after 8:00 P.M. Friday night when Police Officer Manual Rumion, 36, and his partner came upon a shooting in progress. A Hispanic man walked up to a 48-year-old Black man on the north sidewalk of 89th Street and shot him several times. The victim had just made a purchase at a nearby liquor store.

Officer Rumion and his partner witnessed the shooting from their police car and quickly engaged the shooter. Officer Rumion fired at the man, who ran to an awaiting car. The officers pursued the suspects, but lost them near Hooper Avenue and 83rd Street.

Several minutes later, another patrol unit found the suspects’ car crashed and abandoned near Compton and Nadeau streets.

Police cordoned off the area for several hours, but could not locate either of the Hispanic men seen in the suspects’ car, which turned out to be a black 2006 Chrysler 300M. Investigators found no evidence that the gunman had been wounded by the officer’s gunfire.

Neither Officer Rumion, nor his partner, was injured in the incident. Officer Rumion is an 11-year veteran of the LAPD.

Detectives believe the initial shooting was gang motivated. The wounded victim was treated at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and was expected to survive his injuries. He was not a member of any gang.

Detectives have no leads on the shooter or the getaway driver. They are encouraging anyone with information to call the LAPD.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southeast Police Station at 213-972-7816. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).