LAPD Officer Stable After Wilshire Station Shootout
LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said a man walked into the lobby of the Mid-City station, on Venice Boulevard near La Brea Avenue, around 8:30 p.m. wielding a handgun. The suspect said he had a complaint and then opened fire.
Two officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was hospitalized in critical condition. The suspect is reportedly in critical condition and is undergoing surgery.
SEE ALSO: LAPD Officer Wounded In Wilshire Station Shooting
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck tweeted that the officer was shot more than seven times, one bullet passing through his left arm, but was stable thanks to a bullet proof body armor.
Beck most recently tweeted:
#LAPD hero is 7 yr veteran assigned to @LAPDWestTraffic Division, happened to be working the desk tonight. Saved his own life & his partner.
A motive for the shooting has not been identified. Right after the shooting, a bomb squad was at the scene checking out a vehicle that might be connected to the shooting suspect.
The wounded officer was being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
"I've spoken by phone with the LAPD officer who was shot tonight at Wilshire Station. He is doing well and is in good spirits," said Mayor Eric Garcetti in a statement. "I wish him a speedy recovery."
The LA Times reported that the Wilshire office was much busier Monday night than normal. In a room directly off the lobby, about 35 people had gathered for a community meeting when the shooting occurred
LA Weekly noted that last year, officers outside that very station were ambushed by a shooter who apparently got away. A man dressed in black pulled the trigger, injuring two cops.
Reach Editor-in-Chief Brianna Sacks here