Officer-Involved Shooting in 77th Street Division NRF053-23lr

October 3, 2023

***UPDATE***

The officer involved in the below incident has been identified as Police Officer II Jaime Corona, Serial No. 41963, assigned to 77th Street  Division.
 

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence.  The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed** 

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in 77^th Street Division.

On September 27, 2023, around 4:02 p.m., 77^th Street Division officers assigned to the Gang Enforcement Detail responded to a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW) shooting” to the area of 73^rd Street and Towne Avenue.  Additional information was broadcast describing the suspect as a male black wearing all black clothing, riding a bicycle, wearing a ski mask, and armed with two shotguns.  A second suspect was described as wearing a green jacket, on a bicycle, and armed with a handgun.

As the officers searched the area, they observed a bicycle on the ground in the rear parking of the single-story apartment complex located on the 400 block of East 76^th Street.  The officers exited their vehicle to further investigate and made contact with a suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Devon Henderson, who was wearing all black clothing and a “Gator” style face mask.  Henderson was holding both an assault rifle and a shotgun.

The officers immediately gave Henderson numerous verbal commands to drop the weapons, but Henderson refused. The officers continued to give commands as Henderson turned away and proceeded through a walkway of the complex. The officers maintained a view of Henderson and as Henderson neared the end of the complex, he turned and looked toward the officers, while still holding the weapons and an OIS occurred. Henderson was struck by gunfire and he was taken into custody without further incident.

The Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the location and transported Henderson to a local hospital where he was treated for the gunshot wound and is listed in stable condition.

No officers or other community members were injured during this incident.

77^th Street officers were unable to locate the second suspect described in this incident and no ADW victim has been identified. An assault rifle was recovered at scene. The rifle had an empty chamber but was loaded. An additional J.C. Higgins, Sears & Roebuck 12-gauge shotgun was also recovered. The shotgun had an empty chamber and magazine tube but was equipped with a black nylon butt cuff which held two 12-gauge rounds.

Photographs of the rifle and the shotgun recovered at scene.

The LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division personnel.  The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.