Suspect Armed with Sharp Glass Object Threatens Area Workers NR11577mjf

Suspect charged at Officers resulting in O.I.S.

Los Angeles: A male suspect armed with a sharp glass object threatened area workers and then officers, resulting in an officer involved shooting.

On December 12, 2011, just before 1230 hours, Hollenbeck Area Patrol Officers received a radio call of a 415 man armed with a knife in the 1400 block of East 3rd Street in Los Angeles.  When the officers arrived they saw the suspect, a male Hispanic, 56-years old, later identified as Jose Suarez, who was armed with a sharp glass object.  The officers approached Suarez and ordered him to drop the glass.  Suarez refused to drop the object and did not respond to the officers’ commands, at which time the officers first tried less–lethal options of a TASER and bean bag shotgun in an attempt to subdue and disarm Suarez.  Neither the bean bag shot gun, nor the TASER, seemed to have an effect on Suarez.  He then charged one of the uniformed officers with the sharp glass object at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred.   

The suspect was taken into custody and the officers immediately called for medical assistance.  A Los Angeles Fire Department rescue ambulance responded and transported the suspect to a local area hospital for a gunshot wound to his right hand and chest where he was listed in critical condition.  No officers were injured during this incident.

The LAPD Force Investigation Division responded to the incident and will conduct a thorough investigation of the officer-involved shooting and all related crimes.   

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 officers’ 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 Force Investigation Division at 213-486-5230. 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.