Los Angeles Unified School District police were involved in the incident, reported shortly after 11 a.m. in the area of Broadway and 86th Street.
[Ads /]
Officials say it started as a dispute between two drivers. When school police happened upon the incident, they tried to intervene.
They say a driver of a pickup truck put the vehicle in reverse, hitting the officer. The officer fired at the pickup, striking and wounding the driver.
Several bullet holes were seen in the windshield of the white pickup truck at the scene.
Police were able to stop the pickup and placed two men into custody. One of the men had been injured by the officers' gunfire.
[Ads /]
The school police officer was also injured, as paramedics escorted him from the scene in a wheelchair. He was conscious and alert.
The injuries to the officer and the suspect were not considered life-threatening. Both were treated at local hospitals.
Officials note that school police are sworn officers who are expected to intervene in incidents they observe even if not directly related to a school campus.
The injured officer is an eight-year veteran of LAUSD police force.