Deputy shoots armed arson suspect in Hacienda Heights

A man who investigators said threatened to commit arson is in the hospital Saturday after he was shot Saturday by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in an unincorporated area near Hacienda Heights following a pursuit.

Deputies from the Industry Station were called at approximately 4:24 p.m. Friday to the 14000 block of Crystal Lantern Drive near Orange Grove Middle School regarding a possible arson suspect, who deputies learned was a family member who did not live at the residence, said Deputy Miguel Meza of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Upon their arrival deputies learned the suspect, who was parked in a vehicle, was threatening to burn the home down with a bottle of gasoline and when they approached him he fled in a vehicle, Meza said.

The suspect returned to the location after a short pursuit, jumped out of his vehicle  and ran to the side of the residence near the garage area with a sharp pointed metal weapon in his hand and was yelling unintelligibly, authorities said. Deputies gave the suspect several verbal commands to drop the weapon but he refused and began approaching  the deputies while still holding the weapon.

Deputies fired two less lethal 40 mm rounds at the suspect, who refused to surrender and drop the metal object after several commands. When the suspect ran toward them a deputy fired at him, striking him multiple times in the upper torso.

The arson suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

No deputies were injured during the shooting.

Anyone with information about this shooting was is asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.