14-Year-old Suspected In Shooting Of LAPD Officer

Los Angeles CA

14 October, 2021

11:39 AM

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LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles Police Department officer was shot Thursday morning in South Los Angeles, and police have a 14-year-old boy in custody in connection with the shooting. The officer remains in stable condition at a nearby hospital. Multiple Los Angeles law enforcement agencies are at the scene on tactical alert. "Grateful our officer will survive this unprovoked attack," LAPD Chief Michel Moore said in a statement. "Just spoke with him by phone. Our Robbery Homicide detectives have (investigated) and I'm confident they will identify the individual(s) responsible. Too many guns in too many hands." EXCLUSIVE: Suspect accused of shooting at and injuring @LAPDNewton police officer driving in to work is believed to be ONLY 14 YEARS OLD! @foxla pic.twitter.com/wrK128uyXb— Gigi Graciette (@GigiGraciette) October 14, 2021 The officer was shot in the area of Central Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard at about 5 a.m. Thursday. Officers set up a perimeter and quickly captured a suspect. According to Fox11, the officer was driving to work at the Newton Station in a pickup when he suffered a graze wound to his head, and police took a 14-year-old boy into custody who was in possession of a gun. Detectives are working to determine the motive and whether there are additional suspects. LAPD Assistant Chief Robert Marino told reporters that the officer was driving south on Central Avenue near 28th Street when the shooting occurred. "As he crossed the intersection, he ... realizes the glass in his vehicle is shattered," Marino said. "At that point, he feels a sharp pain to the back of his head. He realizes he's been shot. At that point, he continues and drives to the Newton Area police station." The officer got out of his vehicle and ran across the street to a Los Angeles Fire Department Station, Marino said. Paramedics treated him and took him to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Marino said. "I'm happy to report that he's in stable condition -- he is not seriously injured -- and that he will be fine," Marino said. "He's currently with his family and his fellow officers." The officer apparently suffered a graze wound to the back of his head, Marino said. Marino said a male juvenile who was in possession of a handgun was detained in the immediate area. Other details about the teen were not released. According to Fox11, the teen in custody is 14. Marino said a motive for the shooting was not known. "The officer was on his way to work," Marino said. "He was in his plain clothes, in his plain vehicle. There is no indication that he had been targeted at this point." City News Service and Patch Staffer contributed to this report.