Suspect Shoots Estranged Wife and 3 Others

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, September 25, 2000

"Suspect Shoots Estranged Wife and 3 Others"

Los Angeles: On Sunday, September 24, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a suspect went to the residence of his estranged wife located in the 1300 block of East 43rd Place and shot her with a revolver. The suspect left the residence and walked southbound on Hooper Avenue where he fired his revolver at several pedestrians, striking two of them. He then shot an additional victim in front of 1305 East Vernon Avenue and walked eastbound, then northbound into a residential driveway, where he barricaded himself inside a shed. Newton Patrol officers responded to the scene and set up a perimeter. Numerous attempts by the officers to get the suspect to surrender, proved futile. Canine Officers from Metropolitan Division were summoned to the scene to assist.

As the Canine Officers began their search of the location, the suspect fired several rounds at the officers who, in fear for their lives, returned fire. The officers, who had now moved behind a vehicle for cover, requested additional Metropolitan Division Units, as they could not leave their positions. Additional Metropolitan Division Units arrived and deployed. The suspect fired several more rounds at the officers. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers also responded to the location. At some point, the suspect fired multiple additional rounds at one of the SWAT officers. SWAT officers then returned fire. After deploying less lethal weapons and tear gas, the V-100 (Armored Rescue Vehicle) was utilized to gain entry into the shed where the suspect was located.

Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics, who were standing by at the scene, attended to the suspect and pronounced him dead. The suspect’s revolver and ammunition were recovered at the scene. The suspect, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin, is a male Hispanic, 52 years of age. Suspect’s estranged wife is a 45-year-old female Hispanic and she is in critical condition. The three other victims have been transported to a local hospital for gunshot wounds; one 30-year-old female is also in critical condition.

For further information, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.

For Release 2:00 pm PDT
September 25, 2000