ATF Agent Wounded During Shootout
A federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent serving an arrest warrant in the Palms area of West Los Angeles late Tuesday was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect in a cocaine trafficking investigation, who also was shot, authorities said.
The agent, whose identity was not released, was in “excellent” condition at Brotman Memorial Medical Center in Culver City after being treated for a wound to his foot. The unidentified suspect was in serious condition at UCLA Medical Center with wounds in his upper body.
The shooting took place shortly before 10 p.m. in the underground parking garage of an apartment building in the 3500 block of Vinton Avenue where the suspect lives. Officials said the ATF agent was accompanied by FBI agents and Los Angeles police officers in what authorities described as a “routine narcotics operation.”
As several agents and officers approached the suspect in the rear of the garage, the man allegedly drew an automatic weapon and opened fire. The law officers returned fire.
A companion of the wounded suspect was taken into custody in the garage, but it was not clear if the man was considered a suspect in the shooting.
Authorities confiscated several weapons at the scene.
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