Melissa Pamer & Nisha Gutierrez-Jaime
A man was struck by gunfire in a deputy-involved shooting in the unincorporated South Whittier area Tuesday, authorities said.
The incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. in the 13700 block of Mulberry Drive, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. The shooting involved the Sheriff’s Department’s Operation Safe Streets, which is the sheriff’s gang unit, she said.
Deputies were attempting to conduct a traffic stop when the suspect, who was wanted for a parole violation and a felony warrant for illegal possession of a firearm, exited the car and ran from deputies, sheriff’s officials said in a news release.
The suspect, described as a 22-year-old Hispanic male, ran toward one deputy and brandished a handgun, officials said, at which point at least one deputy opened fire.
The suspect was struck several times in the lower body and collapsed into the street, sheriff’s officials said.
No deputies were hurt in the shooting.
The suspect remained hospitalized Tuesday evening, according to the news release.
Officials said the suspect’s firearm, a black semi-automatic handgun, was recovered at the scene.
The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2017 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.