The incident occurred at about 8 p.m. at the LAPD Wilshire Division and West Traffic division office in the 4800 block of Venice Boulevard. The suspect walked into the lobby and told two officers manning the front desk "he had a complaint." Officials say he then opened fire.
The officers returned fire, striking the suspect. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in critical condition.
One of the officers was also hit seven times and taken to the hospital. He is expected to be OK. Authorities say he was likely saved by a bullet-proof vest.
The injured officer is a seven-year veteran of the LAPD. Police Chief Charlie Beck visited him at the hospital and said the officer is in great spirits.
"[He's] a remarkable young man, very, very lucky. But his luck was augmented by his courage. After being hit seven times, he returned fire and saved his own life and the life of his partner," said Beck. "To be shot seven times at close range by a semiautomatic pistol and be talking to me and texting his friends ... is just amazing."
Eastbound and westbound traffic on Venice Boulevard was shut down from La Brea Avenue to Rimpau Boulevard pending an investigation. Investigators say they are checking out the suspect's vehicle.
Last year, undercover detectives in a white vehicle were shot at outside the same station. Law enforcement immediately launched a massive manhunt for the suspect. But that suspect was never found. The LAPD doesn't know if the two incidents are related.
