An encounter in Exposition Park between a man on a bicycle and Los Angeles Police Department officers resulted in gunshots fired and a serious charge laid against a 26-year-old suspect. Ernesto Sepulveda is accused of using a "ghost gun" to shoot at and injure an LAPD officer last Saturday and now faces potential life-changing consequences for his actions. According to NBC Los Angeles, Sepulveda has been charged this week with two counts of premeditated attempted murder of a police officer and a felony count of carrying an unregistered loaded handgun.
The incident took place on July 5, near 39th and Western Avenue, where officers approached Sepulveda, spotting what they believed to be a gun in his pocket. Sepulveda then allegedly drew the weapon and fired, striking one officer in the leg. Although the officer was injured, backup officers chased down and apprehended Sepulveda not far from the scene. "We are thankful that the two officers targeted in this brazen and unprovoked attack survived this terrifying encounter," District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman expressed in a statement obtained by the L.A. County District Attorney's Office.
Sepulveda's arraignment on July 9 saw him pleading not guilty to the charges, as bail was set at a steep $3 million. The recovered weapon—a ghost gun—is particularly problematic for law enforcement as it typically lacks a serial number, making it almost impossible to trace. The Justice Department pointed out that the number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement soared from 1,758 in 2016 to 19,344 in 2021, highlighting a disturbing trend.
Should he be convicted, Sepulveda could spend between 75 years to life behind bars, a stark reminder of the gravity of crimes committed with untraceable firearms. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 22, where the court will likely delve deeper into the details of the case. Deputy District Attorney Michael Michelena, from LADA’s Crimes Against Peace Officers Division, is prosecuting the case, and the Los Angeles Police Department continues their investigation, as reported by the District Attorney's Office. Sepulveda remains in custody until further court proceedings take place.
