LAPD officer shot, injured during suspect search

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Los Angeles police officer was shot and injured during a suspect search in South Los Angeles Monday morning. One suspect was killed and another was taken into custody following a wild pursuit and shootout.

There was a total of four crime scenes on and near the 110 Freeway. It all began around 2:20 a.m. when officers attempted to pull over the driver of a Chevy Suburban for reckless driving on the 110 Freeway in Florence. Police say two people inside the vehicle fired at officers on the Vernon Avenue on-ramp.

The suspects led authorities on a brief pursuit, which ended at the intersection of 37th and Hill streets, where the suspects crashed their vehicle, fired at officers again and fled on foot. A large perimeter was set up in the area and the LAPD went on a city-wide tactical alert. A neighborhood near Exposition Park was placed on lockdown.

One of the suspects was shot and killed after firing a rifle at police, according to investigators. About an hour earlier, police used tear gas to apprehend the first suspect, who was hiding in a trash can. The names of the suspects have not been released.

A SWAT officer suffered a severe leg wound during the shootout and was transported to a local hospital to undergo surgery. The 22-year veteran of the force is expected to recover.

Two other officers sustained minor injuries after crashing their patrol vehicles during the pursuit.

The police activity shut down four lanes on the northbound 110 Freeway at Vernon Avenue. Traffic was diverted to the HOV lanes.