Robbery Suspect Attempts to Shoot Officers, But Handgun Malfunctioned NR09574kr

Los Angeles: A robbery suspect attempting to elude police, tried to shoot two officers who were about to confront him, when an officer involved shooting occurred.  

On December 3, 2009, at around 10:15 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Sergeant Fernando Zuniga and his partner, were working a plainclothes detail, the Fraudulent Documentation and Gang Extortion Task Force, and were in a marked black and white police car.  

Sergeant Zuniga was driving near Hoover Street and 5th Street, while monitoring a broadcast by an LAPD Air Unit who was tracking a vehicle in that area.  The vehicle was believed to have just been involved in a robbery at a check cashing store in the 2900 block of West Beverly Boulevard.

At one point the Air Unit broadcast that the suspects, later identified as 21-year-old Anthony Fagan, 25-year-old Rushawn Gibson, and 28-year-old Davon Roebuck, had abandoned their car at Hoover Street and 5th Street and were running north on Hoover Street.  

As Sergeant Zuniga was driving north on Hoover Street, he and his partner, saw Fagan pop out of a driveway of an apartment complex in the 400 block of South Hoover Street.  Sergeant Zuniga stopped his car and as he and his partner officer were getting out of the car, Fagan turned and attempted to shoot the officers, at which time Sergeant Zuniga fired two rounds from his semiautomatic service pistol at Fagan.  Fagan’s gun had malfunctioned and the round did not go off.  The loaded handgun was recovered at scene and booked into evidence.
Fagan immediately surrendered and was not hit by the Sergeant’s gunfire.  No other injuries were reported. 

After an extensive search of the area, Gibson and Roebuck were also taken into custody, along with an additional firearm believed used in the robbery.

Fagan was booked for Robbery and Attempt Murder on the Police Officers and is being held on $155,000 bail. 

Gibson was booked for Robbery and is being held without bail.  Roebuck was booked for Robbery and is being held on $100,000 bail.

Sergeant Zuniga has 23-years and 3-months of service with the LAPD.

Force Investigation Division is handling the crime against the officers and the officer involved shooting.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Rampart Area Robbery Detectives, Detective Rick Ramos at 213-484-3658.   During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  Tipsters may remain anonymous.