An investigation is under way into an officer-involved shooting in North Hollywood where a man tried to run over police with a car.
The incident happened at Victory and Lankershim boulevards just after 3 a.m. when police tried to break up a fight outside the Hacienda Corona nightclub. The suspect had apparently sexually battered a woman inside the club.
When confronted by police, the suspect tried to flee the scene and ran over a bystander in the process. LAPD Commanding Officer Peter Whittingham said the bystander was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
After plowing over that bystander, the suspect tried to run over an officer. That's when police opened fire. They shot approximately 10 rounds at the vehicle as it fled south on Colfax Avenue. The suspect did not return fire and did not appear to have a gun.
Whittingham said the suspect's car was likely damaged by the gunfire. Authorities said the suspect drove a newer-model white Nissan Maxima with tinted windows.
Officials said they've had problems with this nightclub in the past, and they are not surprised something like this happened.
Neighbors in the area also said the nightclub has had problems before, and they try to avoid the area especially on the weekends.
"It's not a very nice area. This place has always been hectic at nights, Friday nights and Saturday nights," said North Hollywood resident Jeffery Vasquez.
Authorities describe the suspect as a Hispanic man in his 20s. He is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs approximately 200 pounds with a crew cut or a mohawk-style hair cut.
The suspect is wanted for felony hit-and-run with serious bodily injury, sexual battery and attempted murder on a police officer, said Whittingham.
If you have any information regarding this case, you're urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Station at (818) 623-4016.
