Off-duty LAPD reserve officer fatally shoots son in Monrovia
An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department reserve officer fatally shot his son Thursday evening at the family's home in Monrovia, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 6 p.m. in the 100 block of Andre Street, said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The name and age of the victim were not released.
According to sources familiar with case, the son confronted his father with what appeared to be a large object. He was shot once in the chest, said the sources, who asked not to be named because the case is under investigation. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Whitmore said that sheriff's homicide detectives were leading the investigation. Detectives were working with a county prosecutor who was at the scene Thursday night.
"We don't know if there's going to be an arrest," Whitmore said. "It's early in the investigation."
The officer's name was not released.
-- Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez
The shooting took place about 6 p.m. in the 100 block of Andre Street, said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The name and age of the victim were not released.
According to sources familiar with case, the son confronted his father with what appeared to be a large object. He was shot once in the chest, said the sources, who asked not to be named because the case is under investigation. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Whitmore said that sheriff's homicide detectives were leading the investigation. Detectives were working with a county prosecutor who was at the scene Thursday night.
"We don't know if there's going to be an arrest," Whitmore said. "It's early in the investigation."
The officer's name was not released.
-- Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez
EDITOR'S PICKS:
MORE PARENTS MURDER THEIR KIDS THAN STRANGERS !!!
SAD BUT TRUE!!
EVERYDAY IN THE L.A. TIMES THE ARTICLES KEEP APPEARING ON THE FRONT PAGE!!!
I WISH THERE WERE MORE GOOD THINGS TO FOCUS ON AND WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT.
THE MEDIA MAKES US DEPRESSED AND SO I AM GOING TO TAKE A BREAK FROM IT FOR A WHILE AND LIVE MY LIFE AN HAVE FUN!
COME ON EDITORS GIVE US SOME HAPPY NEWS IN BETWEEN THE BAD AND BAD AND BAD!!!
Posted by: observer | February 26, 2010 at 04:46 AM
Sorry - but this does NOT seem like a case of self defense. I don't know any parent who would shoot their child in the chest - no matter what fear they felt. I can only imagine what type of abusive life that child must have lived with a parent like this.
Posted by: Rosemary in Chino Hills | February 26, 2010 at 06:13 AM
My condolences to the family.
When the only tool you have is a hammer,
everything gets nailed.
Posted by: Dave | February 26, 2010 at 07:00 AM
I guess police officers really do shoot first and ask questions later regardless of who you are. This really sucks.
Posted by: Dod | February 26, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Sad.
Posted by: ray | February 26, 2010 at 08:25 AM
@observer . . . cocaine is a hell of a drug
Posted by: jack | February 26, 2010 at 08:57 AM
"Don't expect an arrest," Whitmore said. "We never prosecute our own. We call it 'professional courtesy'."
Fixed!
Posted by: Going Bust | February 26, 2010 at 08:59 AM
The cops are real good at arresting people for the least little 'domestic disturbance' incident. When it comes to their own lives, it looks like a shoot first policy, just like in the street.
Posted by: Juan | February 26, 2010 at 09:08 AM
Carrying a revolver is a heavy burden.
Posted by: Ned | February 26, 2010 at 09:12 AM
This should be a lesson to other kids...Eat your vegetables...
Posted by: TheBigPicture | February 26, 2010 at 09:12 AM
You folks who made all kinds of spurious allegations after having read an article that contained very little information should be ashamed of yourselves. There has been an updated article posted. The Sheriff's Department (the investigating agency) is now calling this self defense. They are the ones who get to make the call, because they didn't just read a truncated version of the events online. See, they were actually on the scene and took pictures and collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Shame on you who spoke out against the officer without having any information about the circumstances. Good news for you folks, though- you can cancel your gym memberships now. Looks like you're getting enough exercise jumping to false conclusions and running around spreading vile innuendo!
Posted by: Courtney Kincaid | February 26, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Very sad, the father going to have to live with this for the rest of his life. It is sad when a parent has to pull a gun on their own kid for protection and then use it.
Posted by: Mr. X | February 26, 2010 at 11:33 AM
The only thing I'm wondering is... Why shoot the chest? Officers are traine to shoot. Why not shoot the leg or arm to disable the son? I can understand if it was the untrained kid shootin the father accidentally on the chest for lack of skill. SAD.
Posted by: QuestionNable | February 26, 2010 at 03:49 PM
COURTNEY YOU MUST BE A POLICE OFFICER. OF COURSE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO STICK UP AND COVER UP FOR EACH OTHER. THE LAPD AT ITS FINEST.
Posted by: DAN | February 26, 2010 at 04:19 PM
I was friends with him and I just want to put this out there that Brian was tiny, he wasnt super tall and he was very thin... he wouldnt have been able to pose a threat to his dad who was an officer and was trained to deal with deadly situations. This is unfair.. I miss him so much and just want people to know that he was the sweetest guy and a wonderful friend. Miss ya kid<3
Posted by: H | February 28, 2010 at 03:41 PM