Los Angeles: South Traffic Division (STD) officers investigating a traffic collision became involved in an officer involved shooting (OIS).
On March 1, 2008, at 7:05 p.m., STD officers were in the area of Crenshaw Boulevard and 57th Street when they saw a gray-colored pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed. As the truck passed 57th Street, it collided with a large palm tree and came to a stop.
As the officers approached the truck, they noticed Maurice LeRoy Cox in the driver’s seat. Cox, while reaching for the glove box, told the officers to move away or he would kill them. Over the next several minutes, the officers maintained sight of Cox, who barricaded himself in his truck, refusing to exit. Officers assigned to 77th Area, STD, and Southwest Area responded to the location to aid in the investigation. Five officers, all assigned to 77th Area were positioned at Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard to coordinate perimeter control. The involved officers were Jose Campos, six years and 11 months with the Department; Thomas Callian, one year and 10 months with the Department; Osbaldo Ramos, 13 years and 10 months with the Department, Hector Ramirez, five years with the Department, and Corey Meisner, 12 years and 10 months with the Department.
At around 7:20 p.m., Cox left his truck and pointed what appeared to be a weapon in a northerly direction where the officers had deployed. As a result, an OIS occurred between Cox and Officer Campos. Cox then ran south and east from his truck toward the northeast corner of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard into a bank parking lot. While running along the north side of the bank, Cox turned toward the pursuing officers resulting in an additional OIS.
Cox continued to run through the parking lot to the east side of the bank. Once again, Cox pointed what appeared to be a weapon at the perimeter officers where another OIS occurred. Wounded, Cox was taken into custody and transported by the Los Angeles Fire Department to California Hospital where he expired from his wounds.
No officers were injured. Investigators recovered the object, a cigarette lighter power adapter, Cox pointed at the officers. Force Investigation Division is investigating the OIS.
77th street community police station 
