14-year-old girl killed by LAPD bullet during suspect takedown at North Hollywood Burlington store
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police fatally shot a 14-year-old girl who was inside a dressing room Thursday at a North Hollywood Burlington store as they fired at an assault suspect, authorities said.
LAPD believes the 14-year-old girl was killed by an officer's bullet that passed through the wall of a dressing room, where she was found. Police say it's unclear if the suspect who was also killed by police was armed with a gun, but one hasn't been found yet.
Los Angeles police said they received a radio call about an assault with a deadly weapon shortly before noon at the store, which is located near the intersection of Laurel Canyon and Victory boulevards.
As officers made their way to the scene, police received additional calls of a possible active shooter situation underway at that location with reports of shots fired. However, LAPD posted on Twitter that the incident was not being considered an active shooter situation.
"While they were en route, they also received additional radio calls from multiple people indicating there was a possible shooting in progress, possible active shooter. A number of those individuals indicated that they were sheltering in place and they were taking cover," said LAPD Capt. Stacy Spell at a news conference.
When police arrived at the scene, they encountered a suspect "who was in the process of assaulting" a victim, Spell said. That's when police opened fire on that suspect, who was subsequently taken into custody, he added.
The Los Angeles Fire Department later pronounced that suspect dead at the scene.
During their investigation, police discovered that another person was struck by gunfire, Spell said. This individual, later identified as the 14-year-old girl, was also pronounced dead at the scene. She was found during a search for additional suspects and victims, police said.
The names of the deceased were not immediately released.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore told Eyewitness News Thursday evening that one officer fired three shots - one of those shots hit and killed the suspect.
"One of the rounds apparently struck a wall behind the suspect and behind that wall was a fitting room, and inside there, tragically was this 14-year-old girl and her mother," Moore said.
The 14-year-old-girl died in the dressing room.
Video showed a woman with a bloodied face, who appeared to be the assault victim, being placed in an ambulance.
The victim was taken to the hospital with moderate to serious injuries, Fire Department spokesperson Nicholas Prange said. Police said she had wounds to her head, arms and face.
Investigators have recovered some kind of metal object they believe the suspect used to hit the woman. No gun has been recovered so far.
Investigators were trying to determine whether the assault was random or targeted. LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said they don't believe the teenager was related to the person who was attacked.
"This chaotic incident resulting in the death of an innocent child is tragic and devastating for everyone involved," Moore said in a statement. "I am profoundly sorry for the loss of this young girl's life and I know there are no words that can relieve the unimaginable pain for the family."
Moore said a "thorough, complete and transparent investigation" into the shooting will be conducted and added that a critical incident video that will include 911 calls, radio transmissions, body camera and other video will be released by Monday.
Moore expects the investigation will take at least weeks.
The police officer who opened fire has been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.
The California Department of Justice was investigating the shooting, Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
