Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves One Person Dead

July 25, 2000

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, July 25, 2000

"Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves One Person Dead"

Los Angeles – On Monday July 24, 2000, at approximately 10:45 P.M., an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) sergeant was in his residence in the West Valley Area. The sergeant heard the sounds of traffic collisions emanating from the street outside his residence. He armed himself with a 9mm handgun and exited his residence in an effort to determine the source of the activity. The sergeant heard the sounds of several additional vehicle collisions and observed a vehicle accelerating away from him in the residential neighborhood. The sergeant contacted 911 via a cellular telephone and requested the response of LAPD personnel. The sergeant then observed a white pick-up truck stopped in the intersection of Jackie Avenue and Friar Street. The vehicle had extensive damage and it appeared that the truck was the source of the traffic collisions. The sergeant walked toward the vehicle and stood on the sidewalk on the southwest corner of the intersection where he repeatedly directed the male driver to exit the vehicle.

The driver refused to obey the sergeant’s commands. The suspect accelerated, driving the vehicle directly at the sergeant. The sergeant, fearing for his life, fired several rounds from his handgun at the suspect. The sergeant, again, ordered the suspect to exit the vehicle. The suspect then exited his vehicle and walked to a nearby curb where he was taken into custody. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and pronounced the suspect, dead.

The deceased’s name is being withheld, pending notification of next of kin.

Robbery Homicide Division is conducting this investigation. For additional information regarding this matter, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

This press release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank.

For Release 11:30 am PDT
July 25, 2000