FBI Drug Sting Goes Awry; Suspect at Large

An undercover drug purchase by FBI agents outside a Carl’s Jr. restaurant in West Hollywood went bad Thursday when the suspect rammed a surveillance car and an agent fired at him twice, a spokeswoman said.

The suspect, who appeared not to have been hit, ran away. Local and federal authorities and SWAT crews began a search.

The shooting occurred about 8 p.m. at Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, according to FBI spokeswoman Cheryl Mimura. Agents had planned to stage a drug buy in the restaurant parking lot, but the suspect panicked.

“When the subject pulled up, agents pulled up behind him to block him in,” Mimura said. “The subject smashed his car into the agent’s car. An agent fired two rounds.”