L.A. Officer Wounds Man During Chase : Investigation: Shooting occurs five hours after the injured man reportedly pulled a gun on another policeman.

A Los Angeles police officer shot and wounded a man who had pointed a pistol at another officer five hours earlier, police said Thursday.

Gary Lee Fowler, 23, was shot twice about 11 p.m. Wednesday in the 14200 block of Foothill Boulevard after he had apparently thrown away the pistol while fleeing police hours earlier, Lt. William Hall said.

Fowler was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition with wounds to his left side and left elbow, Hall said. No officers were injured.

When he recovers sufficiently, Fowler will be arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, Hall said.

The incident began about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday when Fowler allegedly pointed a handgun at a police officer who was sent to the 13000 block of Borden Avenue to investigate a report of a possible kidnaping, Hall said.

Fowler, clad only in shorts, ran into an adjacent field without firing, and police then combed the area for him.

About 11 p.m., Fowler was spotted near a convenience store at Foothill Boulevard and Polk Street, and officers began chasing him “as he fled from yard to yard,” Hall said.

“While pursuing Fowler, the officers observed him reach into his waistband several times” and thought he was reaching for a gun, Hall said.

Officer Dennis McNeal, 28, and another officer chased Fowler into the rear yard of a condominium where Fowler climbed a fence, Hall said. Both officers, aware of reports that Fowler was armed and had pointed a gun at the other officer earlier, followed cautiously, Hall said.

McNeal “to his surprise saw that Fowler had reversed his direction and was quickly approaching the fence,” Hall said.

“McNeal, believing that Fowler was still armed, and fearing for his own safety, fired four rounds through the fence at the suspect.”