SYLMAR -- A veteran LAPD officer critically wounded in an April 4th standoff with a suspect in Sylmar has been released from a Mission Hills hospital Saturday, according to a statement.
K-9 officer Steven Jenkins, who had been in serious condition at Holy Cross Hospital after he was shot in the face and chest while investigating a domestic violence dispute, underwent a series of operations to recover from his injuries.
A nearly 22-year veteran of the LAPD, Jenkins was wounded when the suspect opened fire as he and his fellow officers approached the scene of the dispute.
The alleged gunman, later identified as 53-year-old Sergio Salazar of Sylmar barricaded himself inside a Sylmar home and was found dead by police on the evening of the incident following a nearly 18-hour standoff.
Salazar's body was discovered on the second floor of his house by a robotic camera used to search the home, with two rifles in the immediate vicinity of Salazar's body.
Officers received a domestic violence call from a home in the 13600 block of Dronfield Avenue in Sylmar April 3rd around 10:30p.m.
The caller was Salazar's wife, who police say had run to a neighbor's house and called 911, claiming her husband had beaten her.
Firefighters arrived on the scene first, and said the suspect was running up and down the street looking for his wife. They called additional police units.
Officers had initiated a search of the premises with K-9 units around 2:45 a.m. just before the suspect started shooting at officers from a window, and they returned fire.
The first bullet entered the right side of his face and exited near his jaw, according to Dr. Bradley Roth.
The second bullet fractured several ribs and damaged a lung, Roth said.
Jenkin's wife is an LAPD sergeant and his son is an LAPD officer, Chief Beck said.
A fund has been set up for Officer Jenkins. Interested parties can send donations to:
Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union Attn: Blue Ribbon Trust for Steven Jenkins P.O. Box 10188 Van Nuys, CA 91410
