Crime & Safety

Valley Man Suspected of Shooting Police Officer Found Dead in His Home After Standoff

Police use a "bat cat' to tear off a wall of the man's house.

The suspect in the shooting of a officer was found dead on the second floor hallway of his Sylmar home which police nearly destroyed with a huge piece of equipment called the "Bat Cat.''

A rifle was found near the man's body, LAPD Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese
said at a news conference tonight.

Albanese did not release the man's name. The Los Angeles Times
identified the man as Sergio O. Salazar, 53, and said he was convicted of
carrying a loaded firearm in a public place in the Antelope Valley in 1993.

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Officer Steve Jenkins, a 22-year LAPD veteran, was shot about 2:15 a.m.
as he and other officers approached the home in the 13600 block of Dronfield
Avenue on a domestic violence call, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.

"He is a true hero,'' Beck said. "This is a tragedy.''

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The gunman then holed up in his residence, which was surrounded by SWAT
officers trying to flush him out with tear gas.

Albanese explained the use of the remote-controlled giant "Bat Cat,'' a kind of hydraulic forklift and crane which has cameras mounted on it and was being used as a kind of battering ram. It also picked up and moved a vehicle which was in the way of the device.

Albanese said "it had been a very long day in which we tried to get him to surrender multiple times ... We even took extra time even to the point where we set up a PA system because he wouldn't talk to us.''

Albanese said the investigations at the scene would probably go on
tonight, Tuesday and possibly into Wednesday.

The "Bat Cat'' clawed its way into the home and the home next door so officers could see the suspect without having to go inside themselves, Fox11 reported. The equipment cost the Los Angeles Police Department nearly $1 million.

Albanese said he didn't believe it had ever been used in this manner, but adamantly defended its use.

Albanese said the "Bat Cat'' was "a unique piece of equipment'' used in "extreme circumstances and we had extreme circumstances today. It proved to be very useful in securing the safety of our officers.

"I'd much rather use a mechanical instrument to keep our officers safe,'' Albanese said.

"I wasn't going to authorize officers to go in there," Albanese said.

"I think it was a right decision. We had a man with a high powered rifle who had already shot at one officer ... I have no question about what we did. It was
the right thing to do."

Albanese said he hoped the investigation would explain why the man fired
shots at officers.

"We collectively scratched our heads,'' Albanese said. "The man had a
criminal history but it was kind of hope. Hopefully we can learn more as we
interview family members and neighbors."

Albanese said that police would attempt to explain why such extreme actions had been taken to nearby neighbors who had to be evacuated and promised that the police department would pay for any needed repairs.

Jenkins, a canine officer, was rushed to Providence Holy Cross Hospital
in Mission Hills, where he underwent surgery. Jenkins' wife is an LAPD
sergeant, and his son also is an officer.

Emergency room doctor Bradley Roth said late this morning that Jenkins
was sedated, and was in critical but stable condition.

"Because the patient suffered a gunshot wound to his face, which went
in on his right side and actually exited out his (lower jaw), that type of
injury ... results usually in a possible airway emergency,'' Roth said.

Doctors inserted a breathing tube to protect his airway, Roth said.

A second bullet entered near Jenkins' left collarbone, and exited his
chest cavity, resulting in lung damage, rib fractures and blood-vessel damage,
Roth said. A blood drive in Jenkins' name was being conducted at the hospital.

After the shooting, the suspect remained barricaded inside his
residence, and shortly before 10 a.m., SWAT officers fired tear gas and ``hot
gas'' into the home, according to LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman.

In response, the suspect fired shots from the residence, prompting
police to return fire. No officers were hit, and it was unclear if the suspect
was wounded, Neiman said.

Later in the morning, the ``Bat Cat'' was used to rip holes in the side
of the suspect's home in hopes of getting a better look inside.

Residents in the area were evacuated to a high school, Neiman said.

Police were first called to the home at 10:38 p.m. Sunday in a report of
a domestic dispute, Neiman said. The suspect's wife went to a neighbor's home
to call police. Beck described the woman who made the call as ``badly
battered."

Neiman said police made numerous unsuccessful attempts to make contact
with the suspect.

Jenkins is a "well-decorated veteran of the Metropolitan Division,''
Beck said.

"He has a wife and a son who are both Los Angeles police officers, and a large family,'' Beck said.

Beck said Jenkins' prognosis is "very guarded.'' Beck was accompanied at the hospital by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who also spoke with Jenkins' family.

"We appreciate everyone's prayers and concern at this time for Officer Steve Jenkins who was shot early this morning,'' Paul Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League union said."

"He is in critical condition and his family members are with him. This unprovoked shooting is just another reminder that LAPD officers put themselves in harm's way every day to ensure the safety and security of the Los Angeles residents.''

The City News Service contributed to this report


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