Off-Duty Officer Fires at 3 Men

An outspoken Los Angeles police officer who ran for mayor of Inglewood last fall exchanged gunfire with several men Sunday while off duty in Inglewood, authorities said.

Carl L. McGill, 32, who was once named “Person of the Week” by ABC World News Tonight for his anti-gang work, was visiting his sister’s house on East Buckthorn Street in Inglewood when he confronted several men who had been harassing her, authorities said.

McGill began chasing the men and, using his 9 mm service revolver, fired at the group after they shot in his direction six times, police said. Three men and a juvenile, all from Los Angeles, were later arrested by Inglewood police on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer. They were identified as Jose Garcia, 21, Carlos F. Dennis, 18, and Javier Lopez, 18. The name of the juvenile was not released because of his age.

Last year, McGill, a 6 1/2-year veteran of the force, was suspended from the department for 22 days for insubordination following a dispute about his sick leave. McGill, who is black, charged that the discipline was racially motivated.