Officers Engage in Gun Battle With Alleged Gang Members

A dozen reputed gang members were detained by police early Saturday after a shootout with a Los Angeles police anti-gang unit patrolling a South-Central Los Angeles neighborhood.

Police eventually released seven of the 12, but booked the others on charges ranging from attempted murder to weapons violations, police said. Names of the suspects were not released.

“We’re getting shot at more and more often now,” said Sgt. Gary Grubbs of the LAPD’s Newton Street Division. “They have guns and we have guns and it’s bound to happen.”

No one was hurt in the gun battle, which started about 11:45 p.m. Friday, said Officer Don Cox. One police car was hit by a shotgun blast, he said.

Cox said two officers were investigating gang activity in the 1700 block of 42nd Street when they noticed about 30 suspected gang members standing outside a home. The group scattered upon seeing the officers, but one of the suspects turned and began firing a handgun at the car, Cox said.

“Within seconds, other gang members began firing on the officers,” Cox said, including several rounds from a shotgun that struck the side of the police car. The officers fired back while waiting for another police car to arrive.

When the second car arrived moments later, it also was fired upon, Cox said.

Both police cars then fled the scene, and the officers took cover about 200 yards away. From their new location, the officers exchanged several rounds with the suspects, Cox said.

Soon, officers from the special weapons and tactics team were called in, and they sealed off the area. Officers with police dogs searched the neighborhood and made the arrests. Cox said two handguns and an air rifle were recovered during the search.