Officer Fires Shots at Teen in Park

A veteran police officer fired three shots at a 16-year-old suspected gang member who allegedly pointed a gun at him during a confrontation at El Salvador Park Thursday afternoon. The youth was not hit, police said.

The officer, a gang investigator whose name was not released, was patrolling the park just before 3:30 p.m. when he noticed a group of teen-agers who he suspected had been spray painting a wall near the northeast area of the park, Sgt. Dick Faust said.

When the group spotted the officer, they ran across the park toward a recreation center. The officer followed the group and noticed one of the teen-agers carrying what he initially thought was a can of spray paint, Faust said.

“As the (teen-ager) stopped in front of the recreation center, he withdrew a semiautomatic handgun and pointed at the officer,” Faust said. “The officer exited his car, drew his service weapon and fired three shots at the suspect.”

The teen-ager ran to the east side of the park and was taken into custody by other officers who had arrived at the park. The teen-ager’s weapon was recovered at the scene, Faust said.