Suspect Dead After Allegedly Shooting 3 LAPD Officers In Lincoln Heights

Three Los Angeles Police Department officers were shot Wednesday night and a suspect was dead following a confrontation in the city’s Lincoln Heights neighborhood, police officials said. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on North Broadway at Mission Road. All three officers were expected to survive. Officers with the Hollenbeck station were called around 3:50 p.m. to the 3800 block of Broadway on Wednesday afternoon to search for a parolee at large, LAPD Assistant Chief Al Labrada said Wednesday night at a news conference held outside L.A. County-USC Medical Center. Officers found the suspect, who they said refused to comply with commands, and a K-9 unit was requested from the Metropolitan Division. Officers used gas on the suspect, who still did not comply with their commands, Labrada said. “At one point during the search,” he said, “the suspect exited and fired at the officers, wounding three ... who are now listed in stable condition here just behind me.” All of the officers who were shot were part of the Metropolitan Division’s K-9 unit. After they were hit, other officers pulled them from the line of fire, law enforcement sources said. They were taken to the hospital by ambulances.

Los Angeles Times

LAPPL Statement on the Shooting of Three LAPD Officers

Last night, three LAPD officers assigned to the Metro Division were shot by a suspect. The Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors issued this statement in response:

"We are thankful that our three LAPD officers shot last night are on the path to a full physical recovery. Although we believe they will recover physically, each of these officers will live with the memory of almost losing their lives at the hands of a wanted fugitive in a hail of gunfire. What occurred last night to these Metropolitan Division K9 officers happens all too often to law enforcement officers and is a stark reminder of the inherent danger every officer faces when they put on their uniform each day."

Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors

Suspect Photos In 3 Attempted Murder Cases Released; Los Angeles Police Department Urges Victims To Come Forward

Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department on Monday released the photos of three men in custody for unrelated cases of attempted murder in hopes additional victims of unreported aggravated assault or attempted murder involving the suspects will come forward. The first incident occurred Dec. 15, around 9:30 p.m., in a parking lot located in the 3200 block of West Florence Avenue. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Kaleb Cotton, who was armed with a handgun, approached a vehicle with four occupants, two women and two men, and fired multiple rounds into the car, said LAPD. One of the men was hit in the head by gunfire and critically wounded. A female suffered a graze wound to the head and the other male passenger suffered a graze wound to the back. Detectives said they used surveillance video, which showed the shooting in its entirety, to identify Cotton. He was later arrested in Carson and faces four counts of attempted murder. The second incident occurred on Feb. 17, around 1:20 p.m., at a cannabis dispensary in the 5000 block of South Hoover Street.  

KTLA 5

Police Arrest Suspect Who They Say Intentionally Ran Over, Killed Pedestrian In Pacoima

Police on Wednesday announced that they had taken a possible murder suspect, who they believe intentionally ran over a man in Pacoima, into custody. Los Angeles Police Department officers were dispatched to an area near Remick Avenue and Paxton Street, near the I-5 and SR-118 Freeways at around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon after learning of an assault with a deadly weapon in the area. "Upon arrival, officers located a victim in the street suffering from blunt force trauma," a statement from LAPD said. "The investigation revealed the driver intentionally drove his vehicle, described as a burgundy Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck, into the victim, then fled the location." The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. His identity has still not been revealed. A brief investigation led detectives with both LAPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force to a motel in North Hollywood late Tuesday evening, where they arrested the man. 

CBS 2

Suspect Barricaded In Topanga Residence Is Arrested

Authorities arrested a suspect today after he barricaded himself in a residence in Topanga. The incident began at about 11 a.m. Wednesday, when deputies went to the 21200 block of Colina Drive on a report that a person was trespassing at the property, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. A standoff between deputies and the alleged trespasser ensued, ending around 1:30 p.m., ABC7 reported. No injuries were immediately reported. A SWAT team response had been requested preliminarily, but was canceled, the sheriff's department reported. Detectives were still investigating the incident Wednesday afternoon, and no further information was immediately available. 

Westside Current

Two Wounded In South Los Angeles Shooting

A 45-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman are in the hospital Thursday after they were shot in South Los Angeles. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southeast Division responded at 12:44 a.m. to 11316 and 1/2 Main Street near Imperial Highway where they learned the victims were standing at the location and saw a man across the street who suddenly began shooting at them, an LAPD spokeswoman told City News Service. The victims were taken to a hospital in stable condition. Witnesses at the scene said approximately 40 bullet casings could be seen on Main north of Imperial Highway.

MyNewsLA

UCLA Staff Member Robbed At Gunpoint On Campus

Authorities Monday sought the public's help to find two men who robbed a UCLA staff member at gunpoint near the campus. The crime occurred about 5:45 a.m. Sunday in the 1100 block of Westwood Boulevard, according to UCLA police. The victim, who was not injured, was walking in the area when a vehicle pulled up to the curb and a male suspect wearing a black ski mask got out "brandishing a gray handgun," police said. According to police, the suspect took a cellphone, wallet and backpack from the victim, and fled in the vehicle, which was driven by a second man. The getaway vehicle was described as a red, two-door, 2018 or newer model Chevrolet Camaro with a black hood and hard top. Anyone with information on the case was urged to call campus police at 310-825-1491.

FOX 11

Man Drugs And Sexually Assaults Woman Before Trying To Kidnap Her At The Abbey In West Hollywood

A woman was drugged and sexually assaulted by a man who then tried to kidnap her at The Abbey in West Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. It is not clear when the incident happened or if a suspect has been arrested. The sheriff's department is expected to provide more details later today, but deputies say they are looking for other possible victims. We've reached out to the Abbey for comment and have not heard back. 

ABC 7

TV Doctor Bruce Hensel Pleads No Contest To Felony Charge Involving 9-Year-Old Girl

Dr. Bruce Hensel, an Emmy-winning former television medical correspondent in Los Angeles and New York City, pleaded no contest Monday to a felony charge that alleged he asked an acquaintance's 9-year-old daughter to send him sexually suggestive photos. Hensel, 74, was immediately sentenced to two years probation and ordered to register as a sex offender following his plea to contact with a minor for a sexual purpose, according to Deputy District Attorney Angela Brunson. Hensel said during the hearing that he is "terribly sorry for what happened" and has "done everything I can to understand this isolated thing," the Los Angeles Times reported. The girl's father -- who said Hensel had "crossed the line and violated the vow of your profession, which is to cause no harm" -- hugged Hensel and offered his forgiveness, according to the newspaper.

CBS 2

Authorities Search For Teen Who Disappeared In Los Angeles County

Authorities are searching for a critically missing teenage boy who disappeared in Pico Rivera on Monday. The teen was identified as Jack Addison McCormick, 16, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. McCormick was last seen on the 9300 block of Bartolo Avenue in Pico Rivera, officials said. The teenager is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. He has blonde shoulder-length hair, green eyes and wears braces. He was last seen wearing a black sweater and blue jeans, authorities said. McCormick may be driving a white 2014 Dodge Caravan minivan with a California license plate number 7CWX767. Anyone with information is asked to call the LASD’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.

KTLA 5

SoCal Woman Serving Life For Murder Pleads Guilty To Running Stolen Identities Ring

A Corona woman serving a life sentence for murder pleaded guilty Wednesday to running a $2 million unemployment insurance benefits fraud scheme from behind bars that used stolen identities, some of which belonged to other inmates. Natalie Le Demola, 38, entered her plea to federal charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A sentencing date was not immediately available. Le Demola and a dozen others were charged last April with using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits — including pandemic relief funds — mostly during the second half of 2020. According to the indictment, some of the personal information the defendants illegally obtained was provided by an unnamed prison official employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

MyNewsLA

Arrests Made In $10M Arizona-to-California Recycling Fraud Case

Two Arizona business owners were arrested Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into an interstate recycling fraud scheme that saw tons of recyclables transported over state lines to be redeemed in California. The two business owners were arrested in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, respectively, and will be extradited to California to face charges of recycling fraud and grand theft. The arrests were made as part of a large ongoing investigation involving efforts to defraud Golden State residents of millions of recycling redemption credits that are meant to encourage Californians to recycle their goods. Investigators allege that the businesses trucked thousands of pounds of recyclables to California to take advantage of the state’s California Redemption Value (CRV) program. The program allows Californians to return beverage containers to privately-owned recycling centers in exchange for $.05 to $.10 per container. The program is funded by Californians every time they purchase an eligible item.

KTLA 5

Miami-Dade Officer Ambushed, Shot From Behind During Traffic Stop; Suspect In Custody

The person who Miami-Dade police say ambushed and shot an officer in the head Wednesday afternoon has been taken into custody, according to Miami-Dade police director Freddy Ramirez. Ramirez announced the capture Thursday morning, about 10 hours after he announced via social media that the officer, a narcotics detective with Miami-Dade for 18 years, “has been released from the hospital and is at home recovering.” Ramirez thanked other local police agencies, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the community for their support. Miami-Dade police say the officer was making an arrest near Northwest 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, when a gunman came from behind and grazed him with a shot in the head. The detective was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. “This is the fourth time I am at the hospital after an officer is attacked,” Ramirez said. “I am tired of it. These attacks will not be tolerated. An attack on an officer is an attack on the community.”

Miami Herald

Two Firefighters Injured In L.A. County Office Building Fire

Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation following a fire at a Los Angeles County office building in the South L.A. area early Wednesday morning. The fire was reported at 3:58 a.m. at 2615 S. Grand Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Dept., and burned for about an hour before firefighters extinguished it. The sixth floor of the six-story concrete building was showing significant flames. More than 160 firefighters responded. They were expected to remain on scene for several hours, LAFD Captain Jacob Raabe said. Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Raabe said bystanders called to report the fire. Firefighters searched the building and confirmed there was no one inside, Raabe said.

CBS 2

LAFD Paramedics Have To Barter For Life-Saving Supplies

When it comes to fires, accidents and life-threatening emergencies, nearly 4 million people count on the Los Angeles Fire Department. "I think the fire department is fantastic here in LA, they are very good men, there just isn’t enough of them," said LA resident, Jerry Bresnan. Back in February, FOX 11 News reported that how LAFD is struggling with a lack of personnel, fire stations and ambulances. Now, FOX 11 has also learned from LAFD paramedics themselves that on a regular basis they must barter for medical supplies to get through the day. "We barter at the hospitals with other ambulances, ‘What do you got? I'll give you two of these for one of those,’" said one paramedic who asked us to protect his identity. Another paramedic said "we have to trade equipment between fire stations just to stay in service. We fall below the minimum standards every single day."

FOX 11

LA County Reports 901 New COVID-19 Infections

Los Angeles County reported 901 new COVID-19 infections, while the number of virus-positive patients in county hospitals jumped up in the latest data. The 901 new cases reported Wednesday lifted the cumulative total from throughout the pandemic to 3,712,457. Daily case numbers released by the county are undercounts of actual virus activity in the county, due to people who use at-home tests and don’t report the results, and others who don’t test at all. According to state figures, there were 645 COVID-positive patients in Los Angeles County hospitals as of Wednesday, up from 569 on Tuesday. Of those patients, 62 were being treated in intensive care units, up from 60 a day earlier. Another 11 virus-related deaths were reported by the county Wednesday, raising the overall death toll to 35,792. A majority of people who die with COVID-19 are elderly or have an underlying health condition such as diabetes, heart disease or hypertension, health officials have said.

MyNewsLA

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 9,200 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.