The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is currently investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that took place in the Topanga Division. The incident occurred in the early hours of October 7, 2023, when uniformed officers from the Topanga Division received a radio call concerning a male suspect holding a handgun inside a grey pick-up truck in the parking lot of a shopping center on Sherman Way.
Upon arriving at the scene, the officers located the truck parked in the lot and positioned their police vehicles behind it. Due to the tinted windows of the truck, it was initially unclear whether the vehicle was occupied. Nevertheless, the officers proceeded cautiously and approached the truck from the passenger side. It was at this point that they observed the suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Oscar Lopez, seated in the driver seat, along with another individual in the front passenger seat.
Both individuals appeared to be intoxicated and failed to respond to verbal commands to exit the truck. One of the officers opened the passenger side door and noticed a handgun in Lopez’s waistband. The officer repeatedly ordered Lopez not to reach for the weapon. However, despite the warnings, Lopez lowered his right hand towards his waistband, prompting the officer to discharge his weapon. As a result, Lopez was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene by the Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel.
Fortunately, the passenger in the truck was safely removed by officers just before the OIS occurred, and he remained unharmed. Meanwhile, the LAPD’s Family Liaison Section was responsible for notifying Lopez’s next of kin about the incident. Additionally, a loaded Polymer 80, Model 940 C, 9mm black semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the scene and booked as evidence, along with an additional magazine containing four live rounds.
Thankfully, no officers or members of the community sustained any injuries during the confrontation. In response to the incident, the LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division promptly dispatched personnel to the scene. These investigators conducted interviews with witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division.
Moving forward, the entire investigation will undergo thorough review by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General. This comprehensive evaluation will assess the investigation’s adequacy, accuracy, and compliance with LAPD’s policies and procedures regarding the use of deadly force. Furthermore, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which was also present at the scene, will conduct an independent review of the subsequent Force Investigation Division report, the evidence collected, and the witness statements. This review will aim to determine the reasonability of the force used by the officer involved in the OIS.
In conclusion, the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is actively investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting that occurred in the Topanga Division. The incident involved a suspect who was fatally shot by an officer after lowering his hand towards a handgun in his waistband. The investigation will be meticulously reviewed to ensure compliance with the LAPD’s policies and procedures. The involvement of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office further attests to the commitment to a fair and impartial assessment of the events leading to the use of deadly force.
