An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer shot two suspects who allegedly tried to break into his San Gabriel home Tuesday.
According to San Gabriel police, a burglary was reported around 10:15 a.m. in the 600 block of Los Olivos Drive. Responding officers found one suspect bleeding on the driveway of the home, and another had already been driven to a hospital by a third person.
Their conditions were not immediately known, although a media report from the scene indicated one suspect was in critical condition.
LAPD Officer Drake Madison confirmed that the homeowner was an off-duty officer, a 29-year veteran of the department. His name was not immediately released.
Police said as many as four people may have been involved in the burglary, with two male suspects in custody and the other two hospitalized.
San Gabriel police learned that the victim and resident of the house, an off-duty Los Angeles police lieutenant, was home alone sleeping when he heard noises coming from inside of his home.
“Fearing for his life, the homeowner armed himself,” said Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez. “During the burglary, the homeowner confronted two, unknown, burglary suspects inside his home. The suspects then fled through a kitchen window, which was also the initial point of entry.
“As the lieutenant stood near the window, he saw one of the suspects reach for his waistband and turn toward him. Fearing the suspect had armed himself and was going to seriously hurt or kill the homeowner, an officer- involved shooting subsequently occurred.”
Both suspects were struck by gunfire and fled the scene, Navarro-Suarez said. One was detained by San Gabriel police in the driveway. He was suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Navarro-Suarez said the second suspect was also struck by gunfire in his upper body and was driven to a hospital by a third suspect. That suspect dropped the wounded suspect off and with a fourth suspect, fled the hospital.
Two suspects were detained at the hospital and the driver of the car were detained separately. All four were arrested, she said.
According to reports from the scene, all of the suspects are juveniles but their ages and identities have not been confirmed.
The lieutenant was not injured and no suspect weapon has been recovered.
Investigators with San Gabriel police, the LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the scene.
— City News Service