A 27-year-old man was charged with tried homicide this week after he allegedly shot a Los Angeles police officer within the leg throughout a foot chase in Exposition Park, prosecutors mentioned.
Ernesto Sepulveda faces life in jail if convicted of two counts of tried homicide after he allegedly opened fireplace on two officers who tried to query him close to Martin Luther King Jr. Park on July 5, in accordance with Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell mentioned final week the officers have been assigned to a “gang enforcement element” once they approached Sepulveda. He fled and whereas working away “turned and fired rounds at our officers,” in accordance with McDonnell.
The officer who was struck in a leg suffered a non-life-threatening harm.
“We’re grateful that the 2 officers focused on this brazen and unprovoked assault survived this terrifying encounter,” Hochman mentioned in a press release. “I cannot tolerate any act of violence towards these sworn to guard us.”
Sepulveda pleaded not responsible throughout an arraignment on Wednesday. He’s represented by the L.A. County public defender’s workplace. A spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Hochman mentioned the weapon Sepulveda allegedly used was a so-called “ghost gun,” which didn’t have a serial quantity.
