Southeast Officers Respond to a Home Invasion Robbery; Five Victims are Rescued NR11004SF

Los Angeles: Last night, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers from Southeast Division rescued five adults during a home invasion robbery.  One suspect was shot after pointing a Tec-9 pistol at the officers; another suspect was taken into custody.

On January 2, 2011, at around 10:50 p.m., LAPD officers working patrol in the Southeast Area responded to a “Home Invasion Robbery” radio call in the 8700 block of McKinley Place.  When they arrived, the officers made their presence known and ordered the residents/victims to leave the house.  Initially, there was no response. However, while hidden inside the house, one of the victims called the police and gave the officers information on how to navigate their way through the home.

With this information, the officers formulated a rescue plan.  During the rescue operation, Officer James Grace, a five-year veteran with the Department, took a cover position near the side door of the residence.  As an entry team went into the home, a Black male suspect began to run out of the home through the side door.  As he tried to escape, the suspect, armed with a Tec-9 pistol, pointed his gun at Officer Grace and another officer assigned to the operation.  Officer Grace recognized the threat of the suspect’s gun and an officer involved shooting occurred during which the suspect was struck several times.  Personnel from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and immediately transported the wounded suspect to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead as the result of his injuries.

The entry team continued inside the residence where they took a second suspect into custody without incident.  The five adult victims who had been bound by the suspects were rescued.  One of the victims was taken to a local hospital, treated for minor injuries and released soon after.

No officers were injured in the incident.  A Tec-9 pistol was recovered inside the home along with an additional semiautomatic pistol used by the suspects.  Several charges, including robbery with a possible murder charge, are pending against the second suspect.

LAPD South Bureau detectives are investigating the home invasion robbery and LAPD Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the officer involved shooting.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide  Detectives Martha Rodriguez or Bruce Hosea at 213-485-4341. 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.