LAPD identifies two suspects in assault weapon incident

Los Angeles police Thursday identified two suspects who were arrested in connection with an incident in which a man allegedly tried to fire a Tec-9 Mini assault weapon at officers.

Arturo Estrada, 18, and Alex Melendez, 25, both of Los Angeles, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, LAPD officials said. Each suspect is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail.

LAPD officials said the shooting took place after officers pulled the men over Wednesday evening on a traffic stop in the 1100 block of South West Boulevard in South Los Angeles.

Estrada got out of the vehicle and pointed an assault weapon at the officers, but the gun apparently jammed, according to preliminary police reports. Melendez, the driver, remained inside, police said.

Officers fired at the gunman, who fled on foot and dropped his weapon, police said. The LAPD then set up a perimeter for blocks around the crime scene.

No officers were injured in the incident, police said, and the driver was taken into custody. The suspect eventually was tracked down by a police dog and arrested without incident and no injuries, police said.

The weapon, a Tec-9 Mini, was recovered at the scene, police said. It is classified as an illegal assault weapon under California law.

It was the second gun-related incident involving the LAPD within 12 hours Wednesday. A robbery suspect died of wounds sustained Wednesday morning in an officer-involved shooting in the skid row area of downtown L.A.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies were also involved in two deputy-involved shootings Wednesday, one in unincorporated South Los Angeles and another in Canyon Country.

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andrew.blankstein@latimes.com