Wife of Man Slain by Officers Suspected of Shooting at Station

A 26-year-old woman, who allegedly threatened the lives of the police officers who fatally shot her husband Sunday, was arrested Friday on suspicion of shooting at the Foothill police station with a sawed-off shotgun and an assault-type rifle.

Lisa Hernandez of Pacoima was arrested about 7 p.m. Friday following a tip from a resident, said Police Lt. Joe Garcia. Also arrested was Rudy Martinez, 18, of Pacoima. A third unidentified suspect remains at large, Garcia said.

Hernandez, Martinez and a third person were behind two drive-by shootings at the station 20 minutes apart on Thursday night, Garcia said. No one was injured in either attack, but Garcia said the shots hit walls at the front of the station and appeared to be aimed at the front desk.

Because the shooters jeopardized the lives of civilians in the station as well as officers, police asked that the suspects be held on a high bail, and got their wish--Hernandez and Martinez are being held on $1 million bail, according to Garcia.

A stone wall shields the front desk from the street, but “there’s always a possibility of a round entering a station, when you get down to it,” Garcia said.

Garcia said the motive for the attack appeared to be revenge. “That’s the only motive I can think of that would fit. You don’t normally go around shooting at police stations.”

He said Lisa Hernandez had previously threatened the lives of the four officers who mortally wounded her husband, David C. Hernandez, 38, after he went on a shooting spree in his Sylmar apartment complex Sunday night.

Police had arrived at the complex in the 13700 block of Hubbard Street about 11 p.m. that night after receiving several 911 calls about a man running through the complex threatening residents with a semiautomatic pistol, Lt. John Dunkin said. As gunshots echoed through the halls, the officers followed the path of 911 calls and traced David Hernandez to a garage.

When officers blocked his attempt to run from the garage, Hernandez pointed his 9-millimeter Ruger at them, Dunkin said. Four officers opened fire with pistols and shotguns.

Garcia said police had been looking for Lisa Hernandez and Martinez all day, and that they were arrested without incident. Hernandez was booked at Van Nuys women’s jail on suspicion of firing at an inhabited dwelling; Martinez was booked at the Foothill jail on the same charge.