Officer Shoots Knife-Wielding Suspect
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Saturday, May 20, 2000
"Officer Shoots Knife-Wielding Suspect"
Los Angeles - On May 20, 2000, at approximately 2:20 P.M., Hollywood Area uniformed officers responded to an "Assault With a Deadly Weapon (ADW) In Progress" radio call at an apartment in the 1900 Block of North Cahuenga Boulevard. Upon arrival at the location, officers were met by a female, White, victim who was saturated with blood. The victim advised the officers that she had been beaten with a hammer by the suspect, a male, White. The victim directed the officers to the suspect's location. While outside the apartment, the officers heard screaming coming from the apartment. Fearing that person(s) in the apartment were being hurt, the officers made a forced entry into the apartment. The officers then observed the suspect in the apartment in possession of a knife, harming himself.
The officers ordered the suspect to drop the weapon and the suspect refused to comply.
The officers deployed and sprayed the suspect with O.C. Spray. This action, by the officers, did not appear to have any effect on the suspect. The officers requested a taser and a bean bag shotgun. Suddenly, the suspect, who had now re-armed himself with a pair of scissors, moved toward Officer Manuel Lujan, Serial No. 32567, 44 years of age, four years with the Department, in a threatening manner. Officer Lauraine Arellano, Serial No. 33002, 27 years of age, four years with the Department, fearing for Officer Lujan's life, fired her service weapon, striking the suspect. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene. The suspect failed to respond to medical treatment by the paramedics and was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim of the ADW was transported to a local hospital where she received medical treatment and is listed in stable condition.
The hammer, the knife and the scissors, used by the suspect, were recovered at the scene. No officers were injured as a result of this incident
Robbery Homicide Division is conducting the investigation. Please direct all inquiries to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.
This release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace E. Frank, Officer-In-Charge, Media Relations Section.
For Release 11:00 am PDT
May 22, 2000
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