Officials said an inmate from the Twin Towers jail had just been bailed out and was being transported to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center by private ambulance about 5 p.m. after sustaining injuries during a fight. The suspect, whose name was not released, then allegedly tried to bail out of the ambulance as it went 15 miles per hour.
Police say the suspect attacked the medics transporting him, jumped out of the ambulance and barricaded himself at the El Divino Salvador Presbyterian Church on Enchandia Street.
Police dogs were brought in, but the suspect jumped out at an officer with a butcher knife and cut his bicep through and through.
"While they were searching for the guy, apparently this suspect armed himself with a butcher knife from the kitchen of the church and ended up stabbing one of our officers in the left bicep," LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.
The injured officer's partner shot the suspect dead.
The medics at the scene treated the officer.
