Investigators find gun possibly used in shooting of Pomona police officer

Police on Friday recovered a semi-automatic handgun they believe was used in the shooting of a Pomona Police Department officer by a barricaded suspect, who was also shot by police.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives, who are assisting the Pomona police with the shooting investigation, learned that a Pomona officer was driving through an alley at approximately 7:15 p.m. Thursday near the 300 block of Orchid Lane when he encountered three suspects and attempted to make contact with them, said Deputy Miguel Meza of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

One of the suspects and the officer exchanged gunfire after the suspect opened fired first, Meza said. Both were injured in the shooting and the shooter barricaded inside an apartment in the area, but was taken into custody just after 8 p.m. and treated by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics.

The officer was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital where he was expected to survive with non-life-threatening injuries to his right leg, Meza said. The shooter, believed to be in his 30s and suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper torso, was taken to the same hospital in an unknown condition.

Detectives recovered a handgun at the scene. The other two suspects are at large.

Anyone with information about these shootings is asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous callers may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.