An LAPD shooting has left a Los Angeles police officer severely wounded after he was shot multiple times by a gunman, who open fired at the lobby of the police station, KTLA reported Tuesday.
Authorities said a police officer was shot and wounded Monday when a gunman walked into the front of the LAPD's West Traffic Division and began to open fire using a semi-automatic handgun.
The LAPD shooting happened at around 8p.m. since an emergency call was received at the said hour from the Mid-City building, which houses the Wilshire Station and West Traffic Division, LAPD Media Relations Officer Sra Faden said.
"The male officer was hit... seven times; three in the vest and four times in the extremities," said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck on the LAPD shooting involving a yet to be identified gunman.
Beck revealed that the estranged man initially engaged a male and a female officer in conversation before pulling out a gun and started shooting randomly.
Police revealed the two officers returned fire, seriously injuring the gunman in the process.
Beck described the wounded officer as "very very lucky" since he was courageous enough to face the gunman despite his wounds. "After being hit seven times he returned fire and saved his own life and the life of his partner," he added.
Reports said both the wounded officer and the gunman were rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, adding that the seven-year veteran officer was in good spirits.
"Just left our #LAPD officer's bedside at the hospital. Two things saved his life: #bodyarmor & #determination. Courageous will to survive," Chief Charlie beck tweeted a couple of hours after the LAPD shooting.
The unnamed gunman had to undergo surgery because of his wounds and he is declared in critical condition Tuesday morning.
A witness said that a community council meeting was underway when the LAPD shooting happened, adding that he heard as many as 20 shots.
"We were having elections when just outside the hallway gunshots started firing," the witness said. He also added that no one in the meeting group was injured by the LAPD shooting and that all of them were promptly escorted out of the building by the officers.
A possible suspect vehicle is currently being investigated by the bomb squad.
The LAPD shooting is apparently not the first for the said police station. Records reveal that another attack happened in June when a gunman ambushed two LAPD detectives just outside the same station.
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