Video: Calif. Police Officer Fires Through Cruiser Windshield During High-Speed Shootout Chase

Gunfire erupted between Long Beach police and a shooting suspect armed with an AK-47 during a 20-minute chase that ended in Los Angeles when the gunman crashed into a pole and fire hydrant.
Oct. 16, 2026
2 min read
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What to Know

  • A Long Beach police chase turned into a shootout when an accussed gunman allegedly opened fire on pursuing officers with an AK-47.
  • Body camera footage shows an officer returning fire through his cruiser windshield during the high-speed chase; no one was struck in the exchange.
  • The 20-minute pursuit ended when the suspect crashed in Los Angeles and was taken into custody before being charged with five counts of attempted murder.

Key Takeaways

  • Habit formation around camera use typically takes around eight weeks but can be complicated by ingrained behaviors.
  • Policies must be carefully examined and updated to prevent cameras from causing delays or safety risks, ensuring officers can respond without hesitation.

Check out this story for more about bodycams and decision-making.

Recently released body camera footage captured a shootout that erupted during a high-speed chase last month as a shooting suspect armed with an AK-47 opened fire at pursuing California police officers.

The incident happend shortly before 12:30 a.m. Sept. 1 when Long Beach police responded to a report of a shooting involving multiple victims, the department stated in a news release. After identifying the accused shooter—Julian Gandarilla Ocampo, 34—at the scene, officers quickly located the suspect in a vehicle, and a chase ensued when police tried to pull over Gandarilla Ocampo.

As the pursuit continued, Gandarilla Ocampo began shooting at police with an AK-47 rifle, and an officer returned fire through his cruiser windshield. No one was struck in the exchange.

Finally, the roughly 20-minute chase ended in Los Angeles when Gandarilla Ocampo crashed into a pole. The vehicle knocked over a fire hydrant, and water gushed onto the street as sparks from damaged power lines showered the scene.

Long Beach, CA, Police Department
A rifle recovered by Long Beach police after a chase with a shooting suspect

Long Beach police recovered an AK-47 rifle following a Sept. 1 chase with a suspect wanted in an earlier shooting.

Gandarilla Ocampo was taken into custody after police fired a single 40mm less-lethal foam round to subdue him. A rifle was recovered from the scene, and Gandarilla Ocampo was arrested before being taken to the hospital for injuries he sustained from the crash.

It's unclear what Gandarilla Ocampo's motive was in the initial shooting. He was charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count each of evading police and owning an assault weapon. 

Gandarilla Ocampo pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his bond was set at $7.6 million. He faces multiple life sentences in prison.

The incident is under investigation.

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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