LONG BEACH POLICE OFFICERS FORCE ENTRY INTO HOME TO SAVE LIFE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM
February 8, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — On Sunday, February 6, 2011, at approximately 4:45 a.m., Long Beach police officers responded to the area of Myrtle Avenue and Hill Street regarding a call of a man with a gun inside a residence. The caller, a 16-year-old female resident of the home, said her father, who was inside the residence armed with a gun, had shot her and her mother. As the caller pleaded for help, the 9-1-1 operator could hear what sounded like gunshots in the background.
Officers responded and arrived in less than a minute and immediately contained the area. The 16-year-old female caller ran out of the residence, while suffering from a gunshot would to her leg, and contacted the officers. She informed them that her wounded mother was inside the residence with the suspect who was still armed.
Fearing for the life of the victim’s mother, as well as the safety of any other occupants inside the home, officers forced entry into the residence, at a great risk to their own safety, in an attempt to rescue the injured female and apprehend the suspect. Knowing the dangers involved in making entry into the home of an armed suspect, the officers made this split-second decision to enter the home and rescue the wounded victim, risking their own lives.
Upon entry, officers observed the suspect in the kitchen area standing over the victim’s mother, a 37-year-old female, who was on the floor bleeding from a gunshot wound to the leg. The suspect fled into a nearby bedroom where officers chased him and took him into custody. Officers discovered that three minors and an elderly woman, grandmother of the minors, were also in the residence at the time of the shooting but were unharmed.
Paramedics transported the two victims to a local hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds to their legs.
Upon further investigation, officers learned that the suspect also physically abused both females prior to shooting them. Officers searched the residence and located two handguns and a kitchen knife, which were seized as evidence. The motive for the assault is still under investigation. The suspect was transported to jail and booked on several felony charges including: attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, spousal abuse, and other charges pertaining to the possession of the firearm.
Anyone who may have further information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Long Beach Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit at (562) 570-7277.
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