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LAPD stations on heightened alert after two detectives are ambushed

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Police stations across Los Angeles beefed up security Tuesday after two detectives in an unmarked cruiser were ambushed and injured outside the LAPD’s Wilshire Division station.

“While this seems like an isolated incident, out of an abundance of caution, all of our stations are on heightened alert,” Cmdr. Andrew Smith said. “That doesn’t mean rifles out, but officers will be guarding stations.”

Los Angeles Police Department officers were visible outside main headquarters in downtown Los Angeles and marked cars sat on perimeter streets.

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The shooting unfolded about 4:30 a.m. as two detectives working a burglary detail were pulling into the Wilshire station parking area.

Smith said the detective who was driving had just scanned his card that opens the gate when a man described as 30 to 35 years old opened fire, shooting out the car’s rear window.

The detectives were hit by either debris or bullets; one was struck in the head and the other in the arm. The detectives immediately returned fire in an exchange involving at least a dozen shots before the gunman fled on foot, Smith said.

The officers were treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and later returned to the command post to try to identify the suspect, Smith said.

Smith said the gunman knew he was firing on LAPD personnel.

More than 200 officers immediately began combing a 25-block area as the department initially went on tactical alert. Though the tactical alert was called off, a large swath of Mid-City remained on lockdown as police searched at least two addresses after possible suspect sightings.

Three people have been detained, but none was identified as the gunman.

Four K-9 teams were searching street by street as helicopters circled overhead and squad cars were parked every block or so. SWAT officers could be seen patrolling the area.

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At the corner of Venice and Crenshaw, a small crowd gathered. Val Jones, 48, wondered how she was going to get home.

Wearing sweatpants and a jeans jacket, the Mid-City resident lives a few blocks into the cordoned-off area on St. Charles Place. Jones said her friend didn’t have money for the bus so she walked to an ATM at about 6 a.m. to get cash.

Police wouldn’t let her back to her house, so she grabbed a 7-Up, a bottle of white wine and sat on the corner to wait.

“I’m tired, I’m ready to go home and I want some breakfast,” Jones said. “Other than that they have to do what they have to do. I’m fine. I’m glad I used the bathroom before I came out. Also, if it gets to 11 a.m. I’m drinking some wine, how about that?”

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richard.winton@latimes.com

kate.mather@latimes.com

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