UPDATED TUESDAY 11:42 am: The name of the suspect arrested is Angel Aceituno, 18, and according to law enforcement officials he is “a known gang member.”
UPDATED AT 10:31 p.m.
Four Members of the Norwalk City Council were participating in an awards ceremony in the small community park when the shooting took place.
By Brian Hews
The annual City of Norwalk Arturo Sanchez Sr. Halloween Parade ended in violence Saturday afternoon after a known gang member allegedly pulled out a firearm and pointed it at a Norwalk Sheriff’s Deputy in a park where the event had concluded earlier in the day.
According to Captain Patrick Maxwell of the Norwalk Station, the officer involved shooting incident took place at around 3 p.m. at the 11900 block of 162nd Street. Maxwell told Los Cerritos Community Newspaper that Deputies observed “a group of male individuals” gathering at the north end of Hermosillo Park when they approached the group, a suspect brandished a handgun.
“Detectives have learned that deputies observed several gang members congregating in the area. When the deputies approached them in their patrol vehicle they ran away,” said Deputy Don Walker said in a statement.
“The deputies’ attention was drawn to the suspect who was running away while holding his hand to his waistband and followed him in their patrol car. The suspect stopped, turned toward the deputies and pointed a handgun at them. Fearing for their safety, the deputies’ struck the suspect with their patrol vehicle,” said Walker.
“The suspect fell, got up and ran, while still holding the handgun in his waistband. The deputies got out of their car and a brief foot pursuit ensued. The suspect turned toward the deputies again and pointed his gun at them. In fear for their lives, both deputies fired their weapons at the suspect, striking him in the upper torso,” Deputy Walker told Los Cerritos Community Newspaper.
Maxwell confirmed that a gun was recovered at the scene from the suspect. “Hermosillo Park was immediately cleared, and was immediately closed,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell also told LCCN that more than 50 Deputies from surrounding law enforcement agencies responded to Hermosillo Park to assist in the operation.
“The suspect is a confirmed known gang member,” said Maxwell. The name of the suspect has not been released. He is described an 18-year-old male Hispanic and was transported to an area hospital where his condition is not believed to be life threatening.
At the time of the incident, hundreds of local high school marching band and drill team members who participated in the day long event were receiving trophies and awards at a concert shelter on the opposite side of the park.
At least four Members of the Norwalk City Council were participating in the awards ceremony when the shooting unfolded.
Deputy Guillermina Saldana with the Media Division of LASD said “whenever an Officer Involved Shooting occurs and it results in the wounding of a suspect, multiple independent investigations immediately begin at the scene.”
“A separate investigation by the Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney in addition to investigations by Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Internal Affairs Bureau. Attorneys with the Los Angeles Office of Independent Review also respond to the scene and have full access to the facts known to the Sheriff’s Department throughout every phase of these investigations. Once concluded, every aspect of the shooting is reviewed by the Sheriff’s Executive Force Review Committee,” Saldana said.
Los Cerritos Community Newspaper will have additional updates on this situation as they develop..