LAPD officer wounded, man killed in exchange of gunfire in Boyle Heights

A person was shot and killed and a Los Angeles police officer wounded late Friday in Boyle Heights when police exchanged gunfire with someone they were trying to stop, officials said.

Few details were available about the shooting, but preliminary information indicated that two gang officers driving near 7th and Lorena streets tried to make a pedestrian stop, LAPD Sgt. Frank Preciado said.

It was not immediately clear why the officers wanted to stop the person, he said.

The officers were “providing gang-suppression patrol” in the area, Officer Drake Madison said Saturday.

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At some point the person, described only as a male, ran from the officers, Preciado said. After a short chase, he said, the officers caught up to the person, who then “produced a gun,” prompting the exchange of gunfire.

One officer was shot and wounded in the shoulder, Preciado said, and was rushed to a hospital in a police car. A second officer was also taken to the hospital for a back strain, police said.

Both officers were wearing body cameras, Preciado said, but the footage had not yet been viewed.

Several members of the LAPD’s command staff were at the shooting scene. Chief Charlie Beck was with the wounded officers at the hospital.

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Beck stopped by the shooting scene shortly before midnight, telling reporters he had visited with the wounded officer, who the chief said was a “very tough young man.” The officer’s wife and baby daughter were with him at the hospital, Beck said.

“I worry about this every night,” the chief said. “We’re very, very, very lucky that we didn’t lose a Los Angeles police officer.”

As of Saturday morning, both officers were listed in “good” condition, Madison said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

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kate.mather@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @katemather

UPDATES:

May 14, 11:35 a.m.: This article has been updated with details about the events leading up to the shooting and the condition of the officers.

11:30 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with details about the shooting and injuries to the officers.

This article was originally published May 13 at 10:28 p.m.