A 37-year-old woman diagnosed with an unspecified mental health disorder suspected of swinging a metal stove grate at Los Angeles Police Department officers, who responded by shooting her with a Taser and later firing shots at her, was identified by police Friday.
Tiffany Shanae Ruffus was taken by paramedics to a hospital for treatment after sustaining Taser puncture wounds to her forearms, according to the LAPD. She was not hit by gunfire from the officers.
Officers responded to the 3900 block of Ursula Avenue, near La Brea Avenue, in Baldwin Village around 10:55 p.m. Monday to reports of vandalism, where a woman allegedly broke the front window of her apartment along with other windows at two adjacent apartment buildings, according to the LAPD.
Ruffus was found inside her unit, where she had allegedly barricaded herself. Police stated that officers requested additional assistance at the location, and a tactical team was stationed outside Ruffus’ apartment.
“Officers attempted to communicate with Ruffus; however, she refused to comply with commands,” the police department said in a statement.
Officers later obtained an apartment key, prompting them to proceed to the unit and open the front door. At around 11:55 p.m., Ruffus allegedly emerged from the threshold armed with a metal stove grate and began swinging it at officers.
Police stated that a Taser was discharged but was ineffective, and Ruffus continued to swing the grate at officers, resulting in shots fired by officers.
Ruffus then fled to a bedroom in the unit and was ultimately taken into custody after surrendering to officers.
Ruffus was later booked at the 77th Regional Jail Section on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. Ruffus remains jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to jail records.
Detectives recovered an approximately 20-inch black metal stove grate from the scene as evidence. The Force Investigation Division investigation into the shooting remains underway.