Police Search for Suspects in Shooting of Two LAPD Officers

Police are searching for two suspects who shot and wounded two undercover LAPD officers in Koreatown Saturday night, said authorities.

It happened when the officers came to the aid of the victims of a previous shooting.

“About 9:30 Saturday evening, officers assigned to the Olympic narcotic detail were working near the area of Leeward and Magnolia,” said Andrew Smith, LAPD Public Information Officer.  “They were in plain clothes in a plain car, and they saw a group of male Hispanics on one side of the street pull a weapon and start shooting at an unarmed group of individuals on the other side of the street,” said Cmdr. Smith.

When the officers intervened to stop the shooting, the suspects turned and opened fire on the officers, striking them both, Smith said.

Both officers were taken to a local hospital where one has been treated and released, said police officials. 

Los Angeles police Sgt. Cathy Reyes of the Olympic Station said buckshot hit one officer in an eye, but she did not know if it would affect his sight. She said he was expected to be OK. The officer is in serious condition and underwent eye surgery Sunday morning.

Officers detained two men shortly after the shooting and are searching for two others. Police set up a large perimeter in the area and are determined to get the suspects.

“We are prepared to search forever for those two suspects,” said Cmdr. Smith. “Our detectives are going to continue this investigation as long as it takes to find them,” he said.

A description of the other suspects was not released. Nor were either of the injured officers identified. 

 Anyone with any information about this incident should contact the LAPD’s Olympic division station at (213) 382-9110.