Officer Involved Shooting

August 6, 2001

 

Los Angeles: On Saturday, August 4, 2001, at approximately 9:00 p.m., 77th Street Area uniformed Officers J. Kuns, 29 years of age, 5 years with the Department, and J. Carroll, 33 years of age, 31/2 years with the Department, were loaned to the South Traffic Division Crenshaw Cruiser Task Force. While on routine patrol in the area of Crenshaw Boulevard and 59th Street, the officers observed a vehicle being driven without headlights. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle to issue a citation for the violation. The vehicle’s driver, subsequently identified as Joseph Ware, male Black, 22 years of age, failed to yield and a vehicular pursuit ensued. The officers requested an Air Support Division unit and an additional ground unit to assist. After a short pursuit, while travelling west on 68th Street from 8th Avenue, Ware suddenly stopped, exited the vehicle and fired at least one round from a handgun at the officers, striking their police vehicle. Officers Kuns and Carroll fired several rounds from their .45 caliber service pistols through the police vehicle’s windshield at Ware. Ware re-entered his vehicle containing a 16 year old male Black juvenile located in the right front seat and continued west on 68th Street to 10th Avenue followed by the officers.
In the interim, 77th Street Area uniformed Officers T. Davoren, 34 years of age, 2 years with the Department, and A. Paredes, 29 years of age, 5 years with the Department, joined the pursuit as the secondary unit.
Ware drove south on 10th Avenue, from 68th Street, followed by the two police vehicles. Shortly after turning south, Ware collided with an unoccupied parked vehicle at the west curb. The officers stopped their police vehicles as Ware exited the driver’s side of his vehicle. Ware pointed his weapon in the officers’ direction at which time Officers Kuns and Carroll fired additional rounds through their police vehicle’s windshield.
Ware fled on foot in a southwesterly direction toward the front entrance to an apartment complex located at 6811 10th Avenue. As he entered the complex, via a wrought iron security gate, Ware again pointed his weapon in the officers’ direction at which time Officer Davoren fired several rounds from his 9-millimeter service pistol at Ware.
A search of the apartment complex by Metropolitan Division K-9 officers resulted in Ware’s apprehension. Ware was booked for 664/187 P.C. (Attempt Murder of a Police Officer). The male juvenile was taken into custody without incident and released to his parents without being charged.
The suspect’s handgun has yet to be recovered and no injuries were sustained by the involved parties.
Detectives from the Officer-Involved Shooting Section, Critical Incident Investigation Division, and Homicide Special Section, Robbery-Homicide Division are conducting the investigation.
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.