With on-scene reporting/photos by Ryan Smolar
(Dec. 23, 2006, updated from multiple Dec. 22 posts) -- Two LB police officers were shot at midafternoon Friday Dec. 22 in the area of LB Blvd. at 6th St.
The officers were rushed to a hospital, underwent surgery, and are reported in stable but critical condition as we post. LBPD Chief Anthony Batts was also at the hospital before facing a battery of television cameras and reporters alongside LB Mayor Bob Foster in downtown LB.
And LBReport.com has cofirmed that a second crime scene exists in the area of Broadway and LB Blvd. where LBPD engaged a fleeing suspect after he allegedly opened fire on two police officers at LB Blvd./6th St.
Our on-scene reporter, Ryan Smolar, reported a witness saying bullets flew in the area of Broadway and LB Blvd. [report below] Details of the Broadway area encounter and who engaged whom in the second LBPD vs. suspect exchange are pending as we post.
| LBPD says the two LB police officers were shot during a Dec. 22 traffic stop at about 1:20 p.m. in the area of LB Blvd/6th St. LBPD says a suspect exited the vehicle...and opened fire on the two officers. | 
Photo credit: Ryan Smolar |
The Nissan Pathfinder driven by the suspect was spotted parked in an underground garage for a building along Elm Ave. between 3rd St. and Broadway; SWAT was deployed overnight and the vehicle was removed this morning. The suspect remains at large...armed and dangerous.
Photo credit: Thomas Wasper | Shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, LB Mayor Bob Foster and Police Chief Anthony Batts addressed the media on Broadway near Linden, one of several downtown areas where businesses, customers, workers and tourists saw a major police presence for much of the afternoon. |
| Mayor Foster acknowledged, "This is a very bad day for the City of Long Beach." | 
Screen save courtesy ABC7 Eyewitness News |
Screen save courtesy ABC7 Eyewitness News | Police Chief Batts said the suspect exited the vehicle at LB Blvd/6th St....then fired multiple shots at the officers. The officers returned fire. The suspect is on the loose. |
The suspect is a male Hispanic or Filipino, late 20s-early 30s, 5'7"-5'9", 210-230 pounds, short hair or shaved head, tattoos on both arms. The suspect is (obviously) considered armed and dangerous and should be treated with extreme caution. If you see the vehicle or the suspect, call LBPD at (562) 435-6711.
Chief Batts told the media Friday evening that the officers underwent surgery, are putting up a good fight and doing a good job.
[On scene reporting follows by Ryan Smolar] A routine traffic stop at 6th and Long Beach Boulevard escalated into the near-total and continued closure of downtown Long Beach after two officers were reported downed with multiple shot wounds...
Witnesses on Long Beach Boulevard recall seeing the back windows of the vehicle broken, but the driver managed to get away, injured or not.
Another key witness standing on the corner of Broadway and Long Beach Boulevard said he dodged bullets as the white Pathfinder rounded the corner with police in pursuit.
[Photos by reporter Smolar and LBReport.com reader Tennant follow, text by LBReport.com]
On scene photo credit: Ryan Smolar | LBReport.com began posting updates and advisories on the shootings on our front page (www.lbreport.com) within minutes. |
| Multiple crime scenes are believed to be involved. Police have blitzed the area and set up perimeters. A command post has been set up in the area of Broadway/Elm.
| 
On scene photo credit: Ryan Smolar |
On scene photo credit: Bruce Tennant | On Friday afternoon, LBPD units were visible at LB Memorial hospital, guarding the entrance at Atlantic/Columbia Rd. |
Chief Batts [who'd been at the hospital earlier] and Mayor Foster both came to the hospital that evening to visit familymembers of the officers.
Shortly after 4 p.m., LBReport.com reader Jim Bearns reported that as he headed north on Pine Ave. from Ocean, "everything was closed east of pine as far north as at least Broadway" as far as he could tell.
One LBReport.com reader reported hearing multiple shots from as far away as the area of 4th/Atlantic (although that area wasn't involved).
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