A tense standoff in Harbor City ended with LAPD officers shooting an armed suspect who had barricaded himself inside a shed. The confrontation unfolded Tuesday morning in the 25700 block of Belle Porte Avenue, where police initiated a pursuit around 10:25 a.m. after responding to reports of a man with a gun. According to KTLA, officers had to navigate a yard cluttered with "excessive" personal property, complicating the operation.
The backyard presented significant challenges for officers due to an extensive amount of personal property and debris, making movement difficult. While SWAT was at the scene and had established containment, an Officer-Involved Shooting occurred.
— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) February 12, 2025
As detailed by CBS News, the suspect had taken refuge in a shed and, despite police efforts, refused to surrender. After failed negotiations, the SWAT was called in, and officers were to eventually make use of tear gas to flush the suspect out. During the standoff, SkyCal captured aerial footage showing authorities loading the suspect into an ambulance post-incident.
Los Angeles Police Department's statements confirmed that a perimeter was quickly established, and K9 units were employed to assist in the manhunt. "Upon losing sight of the suspect, the officers established a perimeter and brought in K9 units," the LAPD said, as stated by KTLA. The dogs indicated that the suspect was likely hiding in the aforementioned shed.
Despite the dense environment heavily laden with personal items, the SWAT teams managed to tightly cordon off the area. An "officer-involved shooting" ensued, reported the LAPD PIO post on social media, which is yet to provide more detail on the events that led to the gunfire. The suspect did not immediately give in post-shooting but was finally detained and hospitalized for gunshot wounds. The LAPD has confirmed that the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
