LAPD Details Televised Killing

A police officer fired a second volley at a fugitive at the end of a high-speed car chase because the officer thought he saw the man reach for a weapon, Los Angeles Police Department officials said Wednesday.

Los Angeles County coroner’s investigators found 10 bullet wounds in Nicholas Hans Killinger, whose fatal shooting by three LAPD officers was broadcast live on local TV early Monday at the end of a 90-minute chase. LAPD officials have said that officers began shooting in fear for their lives when Killinger, 23, put his car in reverse and was backing up toward them.

As criticism of the fatal shooting mounted Wednesday, the department offered a more detailed account.

Hollywood Division Officer Manuel Solis and Rampart Division Officer Carlos Ocegueda felt Killinger “was attempting to ram” a police car and fired numerous rounds while in “immediate defense of life,” according to the LAPD’s statement.

Killinger’s car struck the patrol car, according to the statement, triggering a second volley by Hollywood Division Officer Arturo Ramirez

Ramirez, according to the LAPD statement, “heard shots being fired, which he believed were being discharged by [Killinger] from inside the car.”

At that point, according to the department’s account, Killinger opened his car door and “twisted” toward the officers. Ramirez “saw the suspect’s right hand clenched at his center waistband area and believed the suspect was holding a weapon,” the statement said.

“In defense of his own life, Ramirez then fired numerous rounds from his service pistol,” it added. No weapon was found on or near Killinger, said Officer Sandra Escalante, an LAPD spokeswoman.

A preliminary report by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office found 10 gunshot wounds in Killinger’s upper body and left arm, said coroner’s spokesman David Campbell. It was not clear how many times Killinger was shot, or who fired the shots that hit him.

The shooting is under investigation by the Santa Monica Police Department and the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton said Monday that the shooting would be reviewed by his department with a “fine-tooth comb.” Bratton said the incident invigorated a review of whether deadly force should be used when the danger to officers is from a vehicle.

Cincinnati and Boston have prohibited officers from shooting at moving vehicles in all but extreme cases. LAPD policy prohibits shooting at or from moving vehicles except when an officer faces the threat of death or serious injury.

LAPD officers began chasing Killinger when he left the Hollywood Freeway in Hollywood about 5:15 a.m. Killinger is suspected of holding up an Agoura Hills gas station clerk with a knife and stealing $180. Ramirez, an LAPD officer for 1 1/2 years, and Solis, a decorated veteran of eight years, were joined in the chase by veteran Rampart Division Officer Francisco Murillo and Ocegueda, another officer with 1 1/2 years’ experience.

The chase reached high speeds on rain-slicked streets, often on the wrong side of the road, and passed through Beverly Hills before reaching Santa Monica.

While driving east on Pico Boulevard several blocks from the beach, Killinger tried to make a U-turn at 6th Street. He could not complete the turn and came to a halt. Ramirez and Solis stopped about 35 feet behind Killinger’s Ford Tempo. The officers got out of their vehicle and drew their guns, believing Killinger was going to run away, according to the LAPD statement.

Videotape of the incident shows two officers, identified as Solis and Ocegueda, firing several rounds into the rear window of Killinger’s car as it backed slowly toward them. The puffs of gun smoke are clearly visible.

Killinger’s car then struck the front bumper of Solis and Ramirez’s patrol car. Killinger’s driver-side door was then flung open. Bullets from Ramirez’s gun can be seen hitting the car near the door opening. Killinger is then seen falling face-down out of the driver’s side door.

Attorney Stephen Yagman, who has handled several LAPD shooting cases, said Wednesday that he would represent Killinger’s relatives.

“What happened is murderous and totally nuts,” he said.

To see a video of the shooting go to latimes.com/chase.