Alberto Ortiz and April Lockhart were both in the LAPD Wilshire Division station on the 4800 block of Venice Boulevard Monday at 8 p.m. when Daniel Christoph Yealu allegedly brought a handgun in and began shooting.
Ortiz was struck by gunfire seven times at close range. He and Lockhart returned fire, striking Yealu four times. Yealu was hospitalized in critical condition.
Ortiz survived and was discharged from a hospital Tuesday night.
Yealu, 29, was held on $2 million bail, charged with two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer with gun allegations.
"[Ortiz] is 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 LAPD Chief Charlie 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."
Police say 28 days out of the month, the front door is locked at night, but the door happened to be open Monday night because of a community meeting.
