Gunmen Open Fire On Police In East LA Intersection Shootout

Los Angeles CA

24 May, 2022

1:29 PM

Description

LOS ANGELES, CA — One man was shot and a second suspect was at large Tuesday morning after opening fire on a passing California Highway Patrol officer in East Los Angeles, according to authorities. The wild shootout occurred shortly after 9 a.m. at the East Los Angeles intersection of Third Street and Ford Boulevard. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, a CHP officer was driving down the street and was fired upon by two men standing on the side of the road. Broadcast footage from the scene showed a patrol vehicle with its rear window shot out. The officer bailed out of his vehicle, returned fire and called for backup. LASD deputies who were in the area heard the gunshots and responded to the scene to assist. "Once they got on scene, they also took gunfire and returned gunfire at two male suspects," LASD Lt. Patricia Thomas said. "One suspect was struck by gunfire, taken into custody and is currently at a local hospital, receiving medical treatment." The condition of the wounded suspect was not immediately known. No CHP officers or LASD deputies were wounded in the shooting. Sheriff Alex Villanueva — who initially reported that the shooting occurred while the officer was conducting a traffic stop — said the second man remained at large, and authorities were conducting an extensive search of the area. A weapon was recovered at the scene where the first suspect was injured, and investigators were reviewing body camera footage and surveillance video from nearby businesses, according to the LASD. Some on-ramps and off-ramps to and from the nearby Long Beach (710) Freeway were closed while the investigation was conducted, the CHP said. Metro L (Gold) Line train service was interrupted between the Indiana and East LA Civic Center stations, according to Metro. Buses were brought in to shuttle riders between those stations. Anyone with information on the incident was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. PLEASE REFRESH THE SCREEN FOR UPDATES. City News Service contributed to this report.