Watch: Suspect Opens Fire on Los Angeles Police, Hits Officer in Ballistic Vest
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Police Department has released body camera, dash camera and aerial video from a June 9 officer-involved shooting that occurred after an armed suspect led officers on a lengthy vehicle pursuit before opening fire on pursuing officers.
According to LAPD, the incident began at approximately 1:47 p.m. when Newton Division patrol officers observed a gray Toyota Tacoma with a temporary paper license plate parked near Washington Boulevard and Alameda Street. Officers also noticed a pedestrian standing next to the driver's side door of the truck.
As officers approached to investigate, they observed the driver, later identified as 35-year-old Los Angeles resident Marco Flores, holding a handgun. When officers attempted to detain him, Flores fled in the pickup, prompting a vehicle pursuit.
The pursuit traveled through several neighborhoods and commercial areas of Los Angeles. Officers briefly terminated the pursuit after losing sight of the truck, but re-engaged approximately one minute later after locating the vehicle nearby. As the pursuit continued, officers transitioned to tracking mode while an LAPD air unit monitored the suspect's movements.
After several miles, Flores crashed the stolen Tacoma into a fence while attempting to turn onto Garnet Street. He immediately exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
During the ensuing foot pursuit, Flores allegedly produced a handgun and fired multiple rounds at pursuing officers, triggering an officer-involved shooting. One officer was struck in the chest by gunfire, but the round was stopped by the officer's ballistic vest. The officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was later released.
Two LAPD patrol vehicles were also struck by gunfire during the exchange.
Flores was struck by officers' gunfire, fell to the ground and dropped his weapon. Officers took him into custody without further incident and placed him in the recovery position until Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived. He was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for multiple gunshot wounds. LAPD said he was listed in critical but stable condition and is expected to survive.
Investigators recovered a 9mm Israel Military Industries Baby Desert Eagle semiautomatic handgun from the scene along with 17 spent cartridge casings believed to have been fired by Flores. The investigation also determined the Toyota Tacoma had been reported stolen.
Flores was absentee booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer. On June 15, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office formally charged him with four counts of attempted murder of a police officer, seven counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a police officer, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a person, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felony evading.
LAPD said its Force Investigation Division and Robbery-Homicide Division are leading the criminal and administrative investigations. The department also initiated a separate pursuit review to evaluate whether officers complied with department policy. Following completion of the investigation, the incident will be reviewed by the chief of police, the Board of Police Commissioners and the Office of the Inspector General as part of the department's standard officer-involved shooting review process.