INGLEWOOD, Calif., – An Inglewood police officer were shot today by a gunman who barricaded himself inside a home with as many as two hostages inside.
The shooting was reported around 12:40 p.m. near 108th Street and Fifth Avenue. A Los Angeles County fire inspector said paramedics responded to the area in response to a shooting, but were not permitted to approach the scene due to the possibility of an active shooter. He said one shooting victim was apparently taken to a hospital by police.
Initial reports indicated that two officers had been shot, but Inglewood police Capt. James Madia told KCAL9 that “only one officer was actually struck by gunfire.” He said, however, that another officer did suffer unknown minor injuries, and both were being treated but they “are fine.”
The gunman remained barricaded inside the home as a SWAT team approached and police tried to talk the man out. According to unconfirmed reports from the scene, at least two hostages were believed to be inside the home, one of whom may be a teenage girl.
A neighbor told a television news station that a man was firing a semi-automatic weapon from the home, which is apparently owned by a woman who was still believed to be inside the house. The witness said one officer was able to limp away after the shooting broke out, but another appeared to be unconscious and had to be carried away.
The witness said the shooting was likely the result of a domestic situation. She said brother of the woman who lives in the home contacted police and was shouting from a nearby street corner, asking police to get his sister out of the house.
Madia told Channel 9 it was still unclear what prompted the shooting.
