Officer-Involved Shooting in Central Area NR23003

Downtown Los Santos: Los Santos Police Department's (LSPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in Central Area.

On February 17, 2023, around 06:30 a.m., the LSPD Central Area Commanding Officer issued a tactical alert for an unusual occurrence, due to reports from the Federal Investigation Bureau (FIB) in regard to an imminent mass shooting to occur somewhere in the Downtown Los Santos area. Around 07:30 a.m., all available officers were dispatched to the area of Legion Square to perform a high visibility patrol, whilst on the lookout for any suspicious activity. Around 08:00 a.m., Metropolitan Division's C and G Line Platoons, D, Platoon, and K-9 Platoon were deployed for the prevention of an active shooter situation. Around 10:00 a.m., LSPD Central Area officers were directed by a FIB surveillance team in regards to a possible mass shooter moving towards Legion Square on Vespucci Boulevard. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a male matching the description of that provided by the FIB surveillance team and attempted to take the suspect into custody. The suspect left a briefcase that he was carrying on the sidewalk, then fled on foot east on Vespucci Boulevard towards Sinner Street, entering into an apartment building. At 10:02 a.m., officers on the scene declared the situation to be a barricaded suspect situation. Metropolitan Division was already on scene, making immediate entry into the apartment building, holding at the entrance to the doorway of the suspect's apartment. The suspect began firing through the walls of the apartment with an automatic assault rifle, toward officers. At 10:09 a.m., Emergency Services Division's Bomb Squad Unit was requested for the case left unattended on the sidewalk. At 10:22 a.m., the suspect exited the room, armed with an automatic handgun, discharging it at the officers outside of the room. An Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) occurred at that point. This resulted in the suspect being struck by gunfire, immediately killing him. At 10:41 a.m., Bomb Squad personnel determined the case to not be a device. Los Santos Fire Department (LSFD) paramedics responded to the scene. The suspect was pronounced deceased at 11:04 a.m.

The only injured party in this situation was the suspect, who was declared deceased and has not been identified. 

LSPD's specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LSPD's policies and procedures.