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Sex Offender Opens Fire on Deputies at LASD Temple Station
Arcadia Weekly Mar 20, 2017
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Sheriff Jim McDonnell and Capt. Steven Katz held a brief news conference in a nearby shopping center two hours after the shooting. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
The shooting Monday morning left the 47-year-old suspect dead at the scene
By Terry Miller
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Homicide Bureau detectives responded to Temple Sheriff’s Station, 8838 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City, to investigate the circumstances surrounding a deputy-involved shooting early Monday morning.
The suspect, a male white adult, apparently entered the Temple Station desk around 7:30 a.m. to register as a sex offender.
Temple Station deputies became suspicious of the man’s demeanor and watched him as he went to his car.
At that point the suspect started shooting at deputies from inside his vehicle. Deputies returned fire. Multiple rounds were shot and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is unknown if the suspect succumbed to his death from a self-inflicted gunshot or deputy gunfire, although Detective Steve Katz said during a press conference that he believed the 47-year-old suspect died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No deputies were injured during the exchange of gunfire.
A shotgun was found inside the SUV and investigators believe a handgun was also in the vehicle, Katz said during the press conference.
“I think it highlights the dangers that our deputies face every single day. Even in our home,” Katz said.
It was unclear what led the man to open fire, but McDonnell said it was a concerning trend.
The investigation is ongoing and there is no additional information available at this time.
Whenever a Deputy Involved Shooting occurs involving Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and it results in the fatality of a suspect, multiple independent investigations immediately begin at the scene. These include separate investigations by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner – Coroner and the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Internal Affairs Bureau. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department immediately notifies the Office of the Inspector General who sends a representative to the incident scene and provides independent oversight throughout the investigative process. The mission of the Office of Inspector General is to provide strong, independent, and effective oversight of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and to ensure transparent, accountable and constitutional policing for the County of Los Angeles. The Critical Incident Review panel convenes to perform a preliminary risk management analysis of the shooting. This panel is comprised of the concerned chief and unit commander, risk management and training personnel, the chairperson of the Executive Force Review Committee, and a representative from the Office of the Los Angeles County Counsel. Every aspect of a Deputy-Involved shooting is ultimately evaluated by the Sheriff’s Executive Force Review Committee, which determines whether there are any policy, tactical, supervisory, or training violations or concerns. The Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney also participates in the investigatory process and conducts a legal analysis of the shooting.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
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