Suspect Points Gun at LAPD Officer When Stopped for Questioning NR09405gb

August 18, 2009

Los Angeles:  In an early morning hours on August 16th, an officer involved shooting occurred after a suspect pointed a gun at the officers.

On Monday, at around 12:30 a.m., LAPD Southeast Area, Gang Enforcement Officer Manuel Castaneda, two years and ten months with the Department and his partner stopped to check a known gang location in the area of 100 block of 112th Street.  The officers saw two men inside the locked courtyard of the apartment building and asked to talk with them.  The two men walked away from the officers and 22-year-old Joshua Akeeda reached for his waistband and pulled out an unknown object.

Officer Castaneda walked to the back of the apartment for the further investigation and saw Akeeda holding a gun.  When suspect Akeeda pointed the gun at Officer Castaneda, an officer involved shooting occurred.  The suspect’s left leg was struck by the gunfire.  Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel responded to the location and transported the suspect to a local hospital.   

A loaded handgun was recovered at the location.  The second man ran away on foot and has not yet been identified.  No officers were injured during the incident

The LAPD Force Investigation Division responded to the apartment complex and is investigating the officer involved shooting.  The FID Criminal Apprehension Team is investigating the crime against officers.  For more information, please call Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.