Foothill Area LERI 05/10/2022 (NRF015-22)

** Effective January 1, 2024, the involved suspect's booking photos have been blurred out, in compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 994, (amending California Penal Code (PC) Section 13655), which addresses the sharing of booking photos on social media by law enforcement.
--------
*The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed*
Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) in Central Division.
On May 10, 2022, around 8:40 a.m., Foothill Division Patrol officers responded to a radio call of a burglary suspect at a recycling center located in the 12000 block of Brandford Street. The suspect reportedly burglarized this location the day prior and returned a second time armed with a knife.
Upon being confronted by store employees, the suspect fled on foot and was observed entering a large inactive strip mine nearby. Metropolitan Division K9 officers responded to the scene and ultimately located the suspect hiding on a steep hillside covered in heavy brush. The suspect refused to surrender and threw several large rocks at officers, which prompted the deployment of 40mm less-lethal projectile rounds. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody with the assistance of officers from the Metropolitan Division’s Special Weapons and Tactics climbing cadre.
The suspect was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital and was later admitted for an injury he sustained to his mouth. Based on the totality of the circumstances and an opinion given by the treating physician, it is believed the suspect’s injury was caused by a less-lethal projectile that inadvertently struck him on the left side of his jaw.
No officers were injured during the incident.
Force Investigation Division (FID) detectives responded to the scene and are investigating this incident.