A suspect is on the loose and a large-scale manhunt is underway in Los Angeles after an early morning shooting that Police Chief Charlie Beck has described as an "assassination attempt" on two LAPD detectives.
According to reports, the shooting occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. in Mid-City, just outside LAPD's Wilshire Station. Two undercover officers working the burglary task force had pulled up to the front of the gate at the station. As they waited for the gate to open, an unidentified man standing directly behind them opened fire on the car, shooting off more than a dozen rounds.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the officers—one a veteran of the force for 20 years, the other for 11 years—were not seriously injured. One officer suffered a wound to his head, either from a bullet or stray shards of glass. The other received a minor injury to his hand. The pair were transported to a nearby hospital, treated, and released. The two have returned to the Wilshire station and are assisting in the search for the gunman.
"[The shooter] knew that these were police officers or police employees," said Cmdr. Andy Smith. "Anybody willing to take on two police officers outside a police station is obviously a dangerous individual."
According to a report from ABC News, the suspect is described as a black male, 30-to-35 years old, armed with a handgun, wearing all black clothing, a black hat and black shoes. Four individuals have been taken into custody and questioned as persons of interest. All of them have since been released.
As a result of the attack, a huge manhunt was underway involving nearly 200 police officers, a SWAT team, and air and K-9 units from the LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Police locked down more than 25 blocks surrounding the Wilshire station, according to reports.
"We want to do everything we can to get this individual in custody so we can keep our community safe," Smith said.
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