Officer-Involved Shooting In Southeast Division NRF010-25ma

March 25, 2025

UPDATE

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Chief of Police authorized the release of the names of the officers who were involved in an Officer-Involved Shooting that occurred in Southeast Area. The involved officers are Southeast Division Police Officer IIs Xiomara Linares Soto-Mayor, Serial No. 44663, Ana Valdez, Serial No. 44690, Stefan Carutasu, Serial No. 45218, and Nico Lima, Serial No. 45672.

March 16, 2025

Officer-Involved Shooting In Southeast Division

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: On March 14, 2025, around 10:20 pm, Southeast Patrol Division uniformed officers observed a vehicle driving erratically and conducted a traffic stop on Imperial Highway, east of Broadway. From behind their vehicle doors, the officers ordered the driver, later identified as 35-year-old Mario Sanchez, to lower his windows and to place his hands outside his vehicle. Sanchez yelled profanity at the officers and, moments later, exited his driver’s door. Sanchez faced the officers, removed a dark object from his waistband area, and quickly pointed it at them, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS). Sanchez was struck by gunfire and collapsed in the roadway. Upon the arrival of additional units, an arrest team was formed, and Sanchez was taken into custody.

Officers rendered medical aid to Sanchez until the arrival of Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, who after assuming care, transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

No officers or other community members were injured during this incident.

The object Sanchez pointed at the officers at the time of the OIS was later determined to be a cellphone.

Force Investigation Division (FID) investigators along with representatives from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) responded to the scene and are investigating this incident.