Deputies in gun battle with suspects in South L.A.
Authorities are searching for at least two suspects tonight after a routine stop in South Los Angeles turned into a gun battle between deputies and two men who had been pulled over.
The suspects opened fire on two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies about 8:45 p.m. near 105th Street and Normandie Avenue, authorities said.
The deputies returned fire, and the suspects fled the scene on foot, said Sgt. Michael Maher of the Sheriff's Department's Lennox station.
"The guys came out shooting," Maher said of the suspects.
He said deputies have cordoned off a large area that they are searching with dogs and a helicopter.
No additional details were available.
-- Robert J. Lopez
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Too bad the police gunfire didn't find its mark...anyone who shoots at a police officer deserves the death penalty, but even if these low-lifes had KILLED a cop, they would probably end up dying of natural causes after 50 years on death row!!
Posted by: Verballistic | December 01, 2009 at 12:12 AM
This is why we need to support our law enforcement agents and authrorize them to take no prisoners. The only "good" criminal, those that would open fire at officers with utter and callous disregard for the rest of innocents that might get injured or killed (as we have seen too often) are dead ones. The police have my blessing - shoot them dead and kill them all. They are rabid animals that need to be put down.
Posted by: Ernie | December 01, 2009 at 04:18 AM
I am glad nobody on either side was killed during this exchange, however I don't condone killing cops nor do I encourage or think its ok for cops to kill and get away with it either. There is something wrong with anyone who believes that killing is the answer.
Posted by: MdW | December 01, 2009 at 07:01 AM
MEMO TO MdW:
Your idealistic approach usually doesnt work out the way you might hope---in this particular incident, the thugs who shot at police ESCAPED and LIVED TO KILL ANOTHER DAY, so it's just one more danger the police have to face daily!!
To attempt to create "moral equivalency" between criminals who kill police and police who kill criminals is not only NAIVE & UNREALISTIC...it is downright MADNESS!!
Posted by: Verballistic | December 01, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Verballistic,
I got news for you, you live in a mad world
Posted by: MdW | December 01, 2009 at 02:27 PM
Personally, I think we are far too lienient when it comes to criminals. A really good case in point occurred in Washington State! We need to stop mollycoddling these people and start enforcing stricter penalties, and yes, actually enforce the death penalty (without the 20 - 30 years of appeals). Someone said the death penalty is no deterent to crime and its true, only because we don't enforce it!
Posted by: Astonished | December 01, 2009 at 05:26 PM
I don't understand why this area isn't called South Central anymore? Why this 'South L.A." stuff?? It's still the same area...
Posted by: Joy | December 03, 2009 at 05:15 AM