Suspect In Custody After LAPD Officer Wounded In Shooting At San Fernando Valley Supermarket Center

A suspected gunman was in custody Sunday night after an LAPD officer was wounded while confronting him at a Ralphs supermarket shopping center in Granada Hills. Officers were en route to a disturbance call at the market at Devonshire Street and Balboa Boulevard about 6:30 p.m. when they were told a man in the store had a gun. They confronted the man, who ran outside, where several officers opened fire. One officer suffered a graze wound, Assistant Police Chief Horace Frank said. The suspect ran into another business, but was arrested after a 45-minute search. A firearm was found at the scene, but the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division will determine whether the suspect fired at the officers, said Josh Rubenstein, the LAPD’s communications director. The suspect was not struck by gunfire but was taken to a hospital for an evaluation, Rubenstein said. The wounded officer was also taken to the hospital and was later released with sutures to the hand, Chief Michel Moore tweeted late Sunday.

2 Officers Ambushed In New Orleans, One Shot In Face By Man In Pedicab

A pedicab passenger inexplicably shot a New Orleans police officer in the face in the French Quarter on Friday afternoon, just as revelers began arriving to celebrate Halloween weekend. The officer was wounded at about 4:25 p.m. while in his patrol vehicle. Other officers took him to a hospital rather than wait for paramedics, and police arrested the alleged gunman within minutes, Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said. Ferguson said the officer was in serious but stable condition after being shot under his left eye. The bullet was lodged in the officer's skull, but the four-year veteran, whose name was not immediately released, was responsive as he walked into the hospital holding his cheek, Ferguson said. A second officer, a 16-year veteran, was wounded by glass shards in the shooting, from a shattered window on the cruiser.

Man Shot To Death In Boyle Heights

A man was shot to death Saturday in Boyle Heights and the gunman remained at large. The shooting happened at 10:21 a.m. at 3656 Noakes St., according to Officer A. Delatorre of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations Center. The victim, a 40 year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. No suspect description was released, Delatorre said.

‘He Was My Hero’: Families Mourn 2 Men Killed During Dodgers’ Celebration In Sylmar

Gunfire brought a Dodgers World Series win celebration to a tragic end in Sylmar Tuesday. The families of 22-year-old Juan Carlos Guillen and 30-year-old Marco Antonio Vazquez said they were fatally shot while trying to stop people who were smashing car windows with baseball bats. “And to see that he was just trying to do the right thing got him in trouble,” Lorena Guillen Garcia, Guillen’s sister, said. “I didn’t expect anything less from him.” The Los Angeles Police Department said it had no leads on potential suspects, saying that they did not know what they looked like or if they fled the scene on foot or in a car. But with roughly 40 people in the crowd that night near Polk Street and Glen Oaks Boulevard and videos circulating on social media, investigators are hoping that the public can help bring those responsible to justice.

Bad Blood Runs South: Breed Blasts Gascón In His Race For L.A. District Attorney

Mayor London Breed has served up a blistering — and personal — election-eve hit on George Gascón, the former San Francisco police chief and district attorney now running for D.A. in Los Angeles, telling Southern California voters to “take into account both his poor record as a D.A. and his lack of character as a public servant.” “Like countless others who have witnessed Gascón’s brand of ‘leadership’ up close, I have opposed his candidacy from the start and for very simple reasons: Gascón was bad for San Francisco and he would be bad for L.A.,” Breed wrote in a recent opinion piece for the Los Angeles Sentinel, the city’s leading African American newspaper. The mayor goes on to slam Gascón on everything from his former support of the death penalty to his record of never charging police in fatal use-of-force cases, saying Gascón “has a long history of going whichever way the winds blow, saying whatever suits his political purposes and only looking out for himself.”

73-Year-Old Man Dies After Hitting Head On Pavement During Attempted Bicycle Snatching In Venice

A 73-year-old man in Venice who suffered a head injury when a 33-year-old man attempted to take his bicycle died Saturday from his injuries at an area hospital. The attempted robbery occurred at about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Victoria Avenue and Beethoven Street, said Officer William Cooper of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. The victim was standing on a street corner with his bicycle where Dylan Brumley struggled with him over the bike, Cooper said. During the skirmish, the 73-year-old man hit his head on the pavement. Brumley was eventually taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of robbery at 2:15 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Inmate Information Center. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries sometime Saturday morning, said Cooper, adding that the department was notified of the death at 4 a.m.

Party Crasher Stabs Three At Encino Halloween Party, Suspect At Large

A party crasher stabbed three people early Sunday at a Halloween party in Encino and ran off, police said. The stabbing occurred shortly after midnight in the 5000 block of Amastoy Avenue and involved someone who was not invited to the gathering, said Officer Norma Eisenman of the LAPD’s Media Relations Section. The suspect escaped after injuring an 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds. The stabbings occurred when the suspect was being escorted out and started a fight with either a homeowner or the person in charge of the gathering, Eisenman said. Others came to that person's assistance, resulting in three people suffering from stab wounds. The person who suffered critical injuries was later upgraded to stable condition, she said. Police have no description of the suspect.

Driver In Custody After Pursuit Ends With Crash In North Hollywood Area

A driver was taken into custody Friday evening after a pursuit ended with a crash in the North Hollywood area. Aerial video from Sky5 shows the vehicle being chased by officers slamming into the back of another car around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Elmer Avenue and Vanowen Street. Sparks flew as the two cars scraped across the roadway. After the crash, the driver was seen getting out of the vehicle and running away as officers followed close behind. The person was eventually taken into custody. It’s unknown whether anyone was hurt in the collision. An ambulance could be seen at the crash site, where one damaged vehicle was stopped on a sidewalk, video shows. It’s unclear why Los Angeles Police Department officers initially began pursuing the vehicle and no further details were immediately available.

Man Dead, Youth Injured In Artesia Shooting

A man was killed and a boy was wounded in a shooting in a residential portion of Artesia, authorities said Sunday. The shooting occurred in the 11900 block of 168th Street at 11:45 p.m. Saturday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The location is about two blocks north of the Artesia (91) Freeway and about one block east of Pioneer Boulevard. “Deputies from the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station responded to the location regarding a gunshot victim call,” Deputy Tracy Koerner said. “Upon arrival, they discovered the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso. While at the location, they discovered a second victim.” The second victim, a youth, had non-life-threatening injuries, she said, adding that it was unclear whether the victims are related. Both were taken to a hospital, where the man died. Anyone with information was asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Investigation Underway After Body Found Inside Car At West Hollywood Parking Lot

An investigation is underway after a body was discovered inside a parked car outside a grocery store in West Hollywood on Sunday. The car was found parked at the Pavilions on Santa Monica and San Vicente Boulevards around 4:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Investigators are trying to figure out how that person died, but say the body could have been there for a while. Officials also added that no form of identification was found on the body, which has since been taken to the coroner's office.

Man Shot And Killed In View Park-Windsor Hills Area

A man was fatally shot Friday afternoon in the View Park-Windsor Hills area near South Los Angeles. The shooting occurred about 1:30 p.m. in the 3700 block of West Slauson Avenue, near Deane Avenue, according to Deputy Eric Ortiz of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The unidentified man was taken to a hospital, where he died, Ortiz said. Authorities urged anyone with information about the shooting to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Long Beach Authorities Rescue Teen From Human Trafficker During A Parole Compliance Check

A 20-year-old man was arrested for allegedly trafficking a minor, pimping and pandering a woman in Long Beach, authorities said Friday. The Long Beach Police Department said they began investigating on July 1, when they pulled Marcus Harris over and determined that he was on parole. During a parole compliance check, they “found evidence that Harris was engaged in the pimping and pandering of a female adult,” police said. Detectives obtained two search warrants and found further evidence related to pimping and pandering. On Tuesday Harris was arrested in Long Beach, according to police. During the arrest, authorities rescued a 17-year-old girl who was with Harris, and investigators determined she was a victim of human trafficking, police said.

No Matter Who Wins The Election, Police Prepare For Protests

As this year’s contentious election cycle draws to a close, law enforcement officials throughout Southern California say they’re ready for what may come on Nov. 3 and beyond. With the COVID-19 pandemic leading millions to mail in their ballots, and the likelihood of post-election court battles, there may not be a decisive count in the presidential race days or even weeks after Election Day. The lack of a clear winner could prompt clashes between protesters and counter-protesters around the nation. Beverly Hills is closing Rodeo Drive, where merchants have been encouraged to board up stores. Plywood is also going up in downtown San Francisco and Washington, DC. Some cities are eyeing curfews and stocking up on tear gas. In Long Beach, where thousands also took to city streets over Floyd’s death, the department has been assessing staff levels and reaching out to community members since September to plan for the election, police spokeswoman Karen Owens said. The city is upping staffing and patrols this week.

Public Safety News

LAFD Battles Greater Alarm Fire At DTLA Structure, Firefighter Injured

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a fire at a structure in downtown Los Angeles Friday night. The fire was first reported shortly after 8 p.m. at a building in the 900 block of South San Julio Street after heavy smoke was seen pouring out of the roof of the building. By 8:30 p.m., the fire had been upgraded to a Greater Alarm structure fire with 99 firefighters assigned with heavy flames inside. Shortly after fire crews arrived, they were forced to take a defensive position due to the deteriorating conditions. According to the fire department, the building was believed to be a fabric business. Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze by 10:15 p.m. One firefighter sustained a heat-related illness and was taken to a nearby hospital in fair condition. The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

L.A. County Reports 1,590 Coronavirus Cases, 4 Deaths Amid Rise In Southern California Infections

Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 1,590 new coronavirus cases and four related deaths. The numbers brought the county’s total to 309,197 cases and 7,074 deaths. There were 799 confirmed coronavirus patients in county hospitals Friday, with 28% in intensive care, officials said. Though hospitalizations have increased slightly, they remain far below the 2,220-plus patients seen during the peak of the outbreak in July. Still, many Southern California communities are reporting increases in the number of cases recorded each day, a concerning trend that has some officials worried that transmission of the virus could be on the rise. In order to determine when a county can move to the next phase of reopening under California’s four-tier plan, the state monitors how many cases have been reported per 100,000 residents over a recent seven-day period. In larger counties, the rate is adjusted to account for how much testing is being done.