Three Los Angeles Police Department officers were hospitalized Wednesday evening in stable condition after being shot and wounded in Lincoln Heights, and a parolee at large suspected in the shooting was dead.
Officers from the Hollenbeck Community Police Station arrived at the 3800 block of North Broadway, between Lincoln Park Avenue and Mission Road, at around 4:30 p.m. regarding a parolee at large and shots were fired some two hours later, police said.
“Reports from hospital have all three in stable condition,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore tweeted.
The officers were taken to the LAC + USC Medical Center and are expected to survive, KCAL reported.
The three officers who were shot are part of a canine unit and were searching for a suspect when he opened fire, sources told the Los Angeles Times.
“During the subsequent investigation, officers came across the individual who refused to comply to the commands and a request for canine officers was requested from Metropolitan Division,” LAPD Assistant Chief Al Labrada said at a news conference held outside of the hospital.
The officers encountered the suspect during the search and “utilized gas to get compliance from the individual,” but again, the suspect refused, Labrada said.
“At one point during the search, the suspect exited and fired at the officers,” Labrada said. Officers returned fire, but it’s not clear how many shots were fired or if the suspect was injured by them.
Mayor Karen Bass visited the three wounded officers at the hospital, speaking with two of them, to check on their well being and to commend the officers efforts in de-escalating the incident.
“I deeply appreciate their service,” Bass said. “The city stands with them, and I very much look forward to their recovery.”
The officers who were shot are part of the Metropolitan Division, according to The Times. The suspected shooter was described as a violent felony suspect.
After the officers were struck, other officers pulled them from the line of fire, the sources told The Times .
One officer was shot in an arm, one in a leg and one in the stomach, KCAL reported.
At least three SWAT Bearcat vehicles were the scene along with an LAPD robot, part of the massive police response, KCAL9 reported.
A warning to residents near the scene of the shooting to stay inside and lock their doors as a safety precaution because the suspect was broadcast from an LAPD helicopter hovering over the area, according to KCAL.
A citywide tactical alert extending officers’ shifts was issued, then canceled after the suspect’s death.
“The shooting of three @lapdhq officers in Lincoln Heights is a reminder of the risks and sacrifices our police face every day,” Councilman Bob Blumenfield tweeted.