UPDATE: LBPD Describes Harrowing Events As It Encountered Armed Suspect In NLB Apt. Complex Who Allegedly Fired At Police Officer, Leading to Officer-Involved Shooting

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(June 15, 2015) -- On Monday afternoon (June 15), LBPD Chief Robert Luna briefed media outlets, LBPD displayed a photo of a recovered handgun (photo below) and issued a release (text below) that described harrowing events Sunday night (June 14) at a North Long Beach apartment complex (area Artesia Blvd./Orizaba Ave.)

Suspect's gun, recovered by officers. LBPD released photo

LBPD says a woman called to report shots fired. An officer responded and encountered a woman screaming for help who said a man had fired a gun in the apartment complex.

That brought multiple officers to the scene, who entered the apartment complex...and the armed suspect allegedly began shooting at an officer. The officer was hit...and three officers returned fire at the suspect. The suspect was hit but still resisted officers, LBPD says. An electronic device [we presume a Taser] was used...and the suspect was taken into custody.

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The officer and suspect both suffered non-life-threatening wounds. The suspect, identified by LBPD as Eric Arroyo, 31, of Long Beach (who remains hospitalized), was booked for attempted murder of a police officer. Below is LBPD's release.

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[LBPD release text] An officer involved shooting occurred on Sunday, June 14, 2015. About 9:06 p.m., Long Beach Police were dispatched to a call of shots heard in the area of the 3000 block of East Artesia Boulevard. The preliminary investigation revealed the following:
Initially, the female caller reported that shots had been fired and that the suspect was nearby. The line disconnected and the dispatcher called her back and learned the suspect was still on scene with a gun. >;o?The first officer arrive on scene within a minute of the call being dispatched and was flagged down by the caller. The woman was screaming for help hysterically while pulling on the patrol car door handle. She told officers that a male suspect had fired a gun within an apartment complex nearby.
Additional officers arrived and developed a plan to enter the complex to look for any victims or evidence of a shooting.
After they entered the complex, the suspect exited one of the apartment units and began shooting at a uniformed police officer in the courtyard.
Three officers returned fire at the suspect.
One officer and the suspect both sustained gunshot injuries.
The suspect left the complex and dropped his weapon. The weapon was later recovered by officers. (See above photo of suspect’s weapon)
Despite being shot, the suspect resisted officers and an electronic control device was deployed to take him into custody.
A second officer sustained minor injuries when the suspect was taken into custody.
The officer and the suspect who sustained gunshot wounds were transported to local hospitals. Their injuries were considered non-life threatening.
The suspect is being identified as 31-year-old Eric Arroyo of Long Beach. He was booked for attempt murder of a police officer and remains hospitalized.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Crimes Against Police Officers Unit, this week, for filing consideration.
The Long Beach Police Department thoroughly reviews all use of force incidents through a rigorous multi-step process that evaluates legal, policy, tactical, and equipment issues.
The Justice System Integrity Division, which is a separate unit of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, is conducting an independent investigation of the shooting, as they do with all officer involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County that result in injury of death.
The Long Beach Homicide Detail investigates all officer involved shootings. This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

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(June 15, 2015) -- Following up on our headline flashed last night (June 14), LBPD confirms that an officer and a suspect were both wounded in an officer-involved shooting on Sunday night (June 14.)

Initial information is very sketchy. LBPD Public Information Officer Claudia Lopez says that at about 9:06 p.m. (June 14), officers responded to a report of unknown trouble in the 3000 block of E. Artesia Blvd. (area of Orizaba Ave.) A suspect allegedly began shooting as officers arrived at an apartment complex and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The officer is reported in stable condition with a non-life-threatening wound. The suspect is reported in stable condition.

The incident is under investigation. We'll update this story with a release expected later today.

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