by All Things Crime Blog staff
The manhunt continues Wednesday for the single gunman who ambushed two LAPD detectives outside the front gate of the Wilshire Community Police Station in Mid-City Los Angeles on Tuesday morning at 4:30 a.m.
The targets of the shooter were LAPD undercover burglary detectives. According to LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith, they were returning to the station in an unmarked car when the shooter caught them trying to open the front gate with a key card and opened fire.
Both officers were able to return fire, and the gunman fled on foot in a southwesterly direction.
One officer suffered a graze wound to the back of his head from either a bullet or fragments from the vehicle, and the other had an injury to his hand.
“This was a blatant attempt to assassinate two of the people that try to protect this community,” LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.
“We certainly must pursue all avenues to bring this individual into custody,” Beck said.
The detectives, who were described as 11- and 20-year veterans of LAPD, were taken to the hospital where their wounds were treated. Fortunately, the damage was slight, and after being released they were back at the station helping in the search for the gunman.
The gunman was described as a black man between 30 and 35 years old, wearing all-black clothing and a hat or cap.
Th police set up a 25-block perimeter and fanned out across the Mid-City area searching for the gunman. Residents were ordered to stay inside their homes and were only allowed to leave on a case-by-case basis.
The street-by-street search was conducted by some 200 officers, aided by members of the SWAT team along with K-9 units and police helicopters.
10 people were detained for questioning, but all of them were ultimately released with no arrests.
The police terminated their tactical search at 2:30 p.m. but are still looking for witnesses.
There is no explanation why the detectives — who did not recognize their assailant –were targeted.
Police stations across the city were placed on heightened alert “in an abundance of caution,” said Cmdr. Smith.
“It’s very nerve-wracking,” said Mid-City resident Anthony Sperati. “These are the people who are supposed to protect us, and they’re becoming hunted down.”
Anyone with information was asked to contact the LAPD at 1-877-ASK-LAPD (275-5273).