Fatal Shooting of Man by Rookie Officer Probed

An investigation was under way into the fatal shooting of an apparently drunk and unarmed man by a rookie Los Angeles police officer at a house near Elysian Park, authorities said Sunday.

The officer, Glenda Browne, 31, fired three shots from her service revolver Friday night into the chest of 18-year-old Leon Panduro, after he allegedly advanced on her, pulled off her necktie and reached for her gun, Officer Richard Dulgerian said. Panduro died at the scene.

Browne, who graduated from the Police Academy in August, is midway through the department’s one-year probationary period, said Officer Joe Linares.

She and her partner, Officer Richard Ortiz, 42, an 18-year veteran, were called to the home on Rosanna Street after neighbors complained about a loud party, police said.

When officers arrived, they found a group of men standing in the front yard, Dulgerian said.

When two of the men headed toward the rear of the house, Ortiz followed to investigate and found Panduro walking out of the back door, acting in a loud and threatening manner, police said.

Some of the men grabbed Panduro by both arms and told the officers “that he was drunk and that they would take care of him,” Dulgerian said.

Panduro broke free and grabbed the butt of Ortiz’s holstered 9-millimeter pistol, but the officer shoved him away, police said.

The other men again held Panduro.

Browne, going to Ortiz’s aid, confronted Panduro as he struggled to free himself from his friends, Dulgerian said. Panduro broke through again and allegedly advanced toward Browne, who drew her pistol, ordered him to stop and tried to avoid him by backing into a corner of the driveway between a parked pickup truck and a wall.

Panduro continued to approach, getting close enough to pull off the officer’s tie, which was later found on his body, police said. At that point, Browne fired three rounds into his chest.

No gun was found on Panduro.

Ortiz was on the other side of the pickup truck when the shooting occurred.