Suspected Gang Member Held in Shooting at Police

A 25-year-old reputed gang member was arrested Saturday on suspicion of attempting to assassinate police officers on patrol in the Nickerson Gardens housing project in South-Central Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams said the suspect, Eric McFadden, was allegedly involved in a shooting on the night of Aug. 26, when two officers on foot patrol came under semiautomatic gunfire but were not hit. Investigators recovered 29 shell casings from the scene.

Five nights later, two other officers were also shot at while driving through the sprawling housing project, Williams said. Neither officer was hit in a fusillade of 28 shots, Williams said, though one bullet struck the light bar atop their police car.

McFadden was arrested without incident about 5 a.m. at his residence in Nickerson Gardens, Williams said. Officers recovered three semiautomatic handguns, a shotgun, $9,000 in cash and 53 grams--about two ounces--of rock cocaine.

Authorities also issued an arrest warrant for Brian McGee, 21, who is alleged to have also fired on officers.

Williams said investigators believe that McGee and McFadden were attempting to intimidate officers patrolling the projects.

The LAPD, Williams said, has made a concerted effort in recent months to crack down on drug dealing and other criminal activities in Nickerson Gardens.