A late-night confrontation in Palms turned into a chaotic scene early Thursday after a man wanted in an alleged assault with a deadly weapon fled from Los Angeles Police Department officers and later arrived on another residential street, where he opened fire before he was taken to a hospital. Police say officers never fired their own weapons during the encounter, even as gunshots rang out on Vinton Avenue.
According to MyNewsLA, LAPD officers responded to a reported assault with a deadly weapon at 3685 Mentone Avenue around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday. When officers attempted to detain the suspect, he took off, eventually arriving at 3760 Vinton Avenue, where he fired multiple shots, per the same account. As reported by Westside Current, officers remained at the scene as of 1:05 a.m. Thursday.
No Officers Fired, LAPD Says
LAPD officials confirmed that no police officers discharged their firearms during the confrontation with the suspect on Vinton Avenue, according to Santa Monica Patch. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel administered emergency medical treatment at the Vinton Avenue scene before transporting the injured suspect to a local hospital, the outlet reported. Scene reports suggested the suspect may have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, though City News Service could not confirm what caused the injury, and the suspect's identity was not immediately available.
The LAPD's Force Investigation Division investigates injuries requiring hospitalization, according to LAPD Online.
The Palms Neighborhood
The confrontation began on Mentone Avenue and ended on Vinton Avenue, both in Palms.
Westside Current's report on the incident, which included reporting from City News Service, noted that officers had not released further details on the suspect as of early Thursday morning.
Investigation Continues
The suspect's condition and the circumstances surrounding his injury remain under investigation. No further details on his identity or the exact chain of events between Mentone and Vinton avenues had been released as of early Thursday.
