By Andrew Blankstein
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police are investigating two officer-involved shootings that occurred several hours apart on the Westside and the northeast areas of the city, authorities said today.
The first incident occurred about 9:50 p.m. Wednesday when two officers witnessed an exchange of gunfire between a man and a juvenile while on patrol at Venice Boulevard and Cattaraugus Avenue in the South Robertson area, authorities said.
One suspect fired in the direction of the officers, prompting them to return fire, wounding the unidentified juvenile, who was in critical condition. The man fled and is still at large.
Police later discovered an unidentified man in the neighborhood who had apparently been shot earlier. He was taken to a local hospital but his condition was not immediately available.
The second officer-related shooting occurred at San Fernando Road and Fletcher Drive shortly before 2 a.m. today.
Lt. Ruben De La Torre said that Northeast patrol officers had pulled into a Chevron gas station when they noticed a man walking with a shotgun. The officers “deployed on him, leading to an officer involved shooting,” De La Torre said.
Preliminary reports were that the man, who was shot in the leg, had not robbed the gas station, and it was unclear if he had aborted his attempt or was simply walking around with the weapon. The suspect’s name and condition were not disclosed.
The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is investigation the shootings. No officers were hurt in either incident.
Police said 14 of its officers have been shot at so far this year, compared with nine for all of last year.
Copyright 2007 Los Angeles Times