Recently released body camera footage captured LAPD officers locked in a chaotic shootout inside a South Los Angeles liquor store in August, and amazingly, no officers were injured.
The incident happened just after 1 a.m. Aug. 31 when two officers tried to detain a man they believed was concealing a weapon, KABC-TV reports. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Malik Salaah, had been armed with a handgun, according to police and video footage.
During the encounter, Salaah fired multiple shots at the officers inside a liquor store before they retreated and called for backup. The suspect then opened fire again from the store entrance, prompting an exchange of gunfire outside as officers took cover behind their cruiser.
Salaah fled the scene but was located a short distance away, hiding behind a parked car. He he had suffered a gunshot wound to the arm during the exchange, and a 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine was recovered nearby.
The liquor store, cruiser and several nearby cars were struck by gunfire in the exchange. Salaah was taken to the hospital for treatment and later charged with attempted murder of a peace officer.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case, and the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is conducting a standard use-of-force investigation to determine whether department policy was followed.
This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
