LOS ANGELES : Officer Wounded During Pursuit of 2 Suspects

Two assault suspects being pursued by police turned on the officers Tuesday, wounding one patrolman in the left leg.

Officer Darnel Davenport, 27, was treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for two wounds to the calf of his leg, a hospital spokeswoman said. “The doctors said he was very lucky,” she said.

The 2:40 a.m. shooting occurred in front of a home in the 5400 block of Smiley Drive, said Police Lt. W.D. Hall. Both men got out of the car and opened fire, police said. The officers returned fire, but it was unclear if anyone was hit. The two men ran away. Police questioned several people but no arrests were made, LAPD spokeswoman Francine Spada said.

Minutes before the exchange of gunfire, the suspects had stopped a car occupied by four adults at Rodeo Road and La Brea Avenue and shot at the passengers, Hall said. The passengers fled but were followed by the gunmen. The four flagged down a police car and pointed out the suspects to the officers, who gave chase, he said.