An attempted murder suspect shot by a Los Angeles Police Department detective in the Westlake district was hospitalized in stable condition Thursday after originally being listed in critical condition.
Around 11 a.m. Tuesday, a detective was driving in the area of Olympic Boulevard and Alvarado Street when he saw two men fighting in the street in front of his vehicle. The suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Johnny Valencia, chased the victim while armed with a knife and began stabbing him, causing the victim to fall to the ground, police said.
Valencia continued stabbing the victim as he was lying on the ground. The detective got out his vehicle while Valencia was still armed with the knife, and shot the suspect, police said.
Uniformed patrol officers from the Rampart Division arrived shortly thereafter and took Valencia into custody without incident.
Valencia sustained a gunshot wound and was taken by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics to a hospital, where he was treated for his injuries, the LAPD reported. Valencia was booked for attempted murder and the victim was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for stab wounds he sustained during the fight.
The stabbing victim was also listed in stable condition, police said.
A knife was recovered at the scene, police said. No officers were injured.