Murder suspect killed during shooting involving South Gate officer in Vernon, police say

VERNON, Calif. (KABC) -- A murder suspect was fatally shot in Vernon Wednesday morning after fleeing from members of a multi-agency gang task force and trying to wrestle a weapon away from a female officer, authorities said.

According to the South Gate Police Department, the shooting occurred at 7:12 a.m. in the 5600 block of District Boulevard in a truck yard. Video from the scene showed a body covered by a sheet.

According to South Gate Police Chief Darren Arakawa, officers from multiple agencies involved with the task force carried out searches of various locations, primarily homeless encampments along the Los Angeles River bed. The searches involved members from the Southeast Gang Task Force, which is comprised of officers from South Gate, Bell, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park and Vernon.

At one of the eight targeted locations, the suspect was spotted, and he fled into the truck yard, officials said.

The unidentified suspect was confronted by a South Gate police officer, who was attacked by the suspect, officials said. The suspect tried to take away the officer's gun, and eventually punched the female officer in the face, who responded by shooting the suspect, police said.

Authorities said a gun was recovered at the scene. Officers taking part in the search had been warned in advance that the suspect was believed to be armed and dangerous.

Arakawa said the suspect has an extensive criminal record and had been released from prison last year.

Details were not immediately available on the crimes for which he was being sought, but they involved an attempted murder and a murder, both in early March, officials said.

A firearm was recovered at the scene. The name of the female officer involved was not released but police said she's been with the department for less than 10 years. She was treated at a local hospital and was later released.

Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the California Department of Justice will be investigating the shooting in accordance to Assembly Bill 1506.

"The OIS incident resulted in the death of one individual and reportedly occurred after a foot pursuit involving the South Gate Police Department," read a press release sent out by Bonta's office.

Once the investigation is complete, it'll be turned over to DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.