Police shot and fatally wounded a suspect on July 9 near the intersection of Sycamore Avenue and 9^th Street at approximately 8:40 a.m. The suspect allegedly attacked officers who attempted to stop him after receiving reports of vandalism in the area.

The 38-year-old caucasian male was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in critical condition and died at 5:50 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Coroner’s office spokesman Lt. David Smith. The suspect’s name has not yet been released.

Sycamore Avenue was closed on July 9 while police investigated an officer-involved shooting. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Sycamore Avenue was closed between 8^th Street and Olympic Boulevard throughout the morning while authorities investigated the incident. The street would likely remain closed to the public except residents into the evening, said Los Angles Police Department spokesman Frank Preciado.

Prior to the shooting, police received multiple 911 calls about a man smashing windows near the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. Officers located a suspect matching the description provided by witnesses riding a skateboard southbound on Sycamore Avenue, approximately three blocks from the site of where the vandalism occurred.

“Officers made contact and an altercation ensued,” Preciado said. “It escalated into an officer-involved shooting. One of the officers drew a weapon and fired, striking the suspect in the upper torso.”

A preliminary investigation determined that the officers attempted to use a Taser to subdue the suspect, but it had no effect. During the struggle, the suspect gained control of the Taser and used it on one of the officers, who suffered a burn on the leg. The officer who was injured alerted the other officer, who shot the suspect.

Preciado said the officers involved are assigned to the LAPD’s Wilshire Division. Both officers were injured, received medical treatment and were later released. They will be taken out of the field while the investigation is conducted.

Per department policy regarding officer-involved shootings, detectives from the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division will lead the investigation. Preciado said Chief Charlie Beck will be briefed about the incident, and the officers’ names will likely be released after 72 hours.

Officers were stationed in front of a window that was smashed at the Wilshire La Brea apartments. (photo by Gregory Cornfield).

Preciado said he heard media reports that stated a neighbor said an officer shot the suspect in the back. Preciado said he had no information to corroborate the account, and that the official statement from police is that the suspect was shot in the upper torso.

Preciado added that it is unclear how many windows were smashed. On Thursday morning, officers were stationed in front of a broken window at the Wilshire La Brea apartments, located at the southeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard, to prevent anyone from entering.