LAPD shooting of 13-year-old with pellet gun is a 'tragedy,' Chief Beck says

The shooting of a 13-year-old Glassell Park boy carrying what turned out to be a pellet gun by a Los Angeles Police Department officer is a "tragedy," Chief Charlie Beck said.

"This is a tragedy for all involved, but in particular for the young man injured in this police shooting and for the officer who believed that he was protecting himself and his partner from a real threat," Beck said in a statement. "The pellet gun the juvenile was using is the exact dimensions of a Beretta 92F and is indistinguishable from a real handgun on a dark night."

The chief added: "We have seen far too much heartbreak involving these types of realistic-looking guns that are labeled as toys."

The incident occurred about 7:50 p.m. Thursday when two LAPD officers on routine patrol in the 3000 block of North Verdugo Road saw three pedestrians in the middle of the street and stopped to investigate. The three people ran, with one ending up behind a van.

The officers got out of their patrol car, and one of them, Officer Victor Abarca, shined a flashlight on the person behind the van and ordered him to surrender. Based on the person’s 5-foot-7, 200-pound frame, Abarca assumed that he was a young adult male.

Police said the boy refused to comply and instead produced what was later found to be a fake Beretta 92F handgun. Abarca fired his gun, striking the boy.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and took the boy to a hospital, where he underwent surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition.

After the shooting, Abarca and rescue personnel were stunned to learn that the wounded male was, in fact, just 13. The other two youths, ages 13 and 14, were detained without incident after dropping their fake handguns. Three faux weapons were recovered.

Detectives from the LAPD’s force investigation division responded to the scene. Police said they had determined that the subjects had been playing in the dark street, shooting pellets at one another with the fake handguns. They said they anticipated that no criminal charges would be filed against any of the three juveniles.

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-- Martha Groves

There have been 50 violent crimes in Glassell Park in the last six months. Details from Crime L.A.:

Violent crimes (50)	Property crimes (174)

Comments

[Scott Spencer]

If some dumb punk has a gun and will not comply with Police Orders, he's looking for trouble! I don't care if it is a pellet gun or not. The boy learned a hard lesson.

[john]

This shooting is justifide.

[Guido Merkens]

A 200-lb 13 year old? Put down the fake gun and pick up some celery.

[Rob]

I would've still slapped those kids with evading police, it's hard enough for police to protect us from adult criminals that they should have to waste their time chasing after 13 year olds with fake hand guns and no sense.

[Regan DuCasse]

It's not like juveniles NEVER commit serious crimes or aren't affiliated with gangs that do as well. What kind of parents allow their child to have something like that which could so easily be mistaken for the real thing? The police cannot really take the time to discern the difference.
And it's fair also that they couldn't tell this behemoth was a KID.
We've recently had children, grandmothers and other innocents brought down by stray gunfire.
I'd say the police here, did a good job. It's not like they celebrate incidents like this. The officer goes through trauma sometimes with these outcomes.
And, if the parents of this boy are looking for a payday, I hope someone points out how derelict THEY were letting a kid have a realistic looking gun out on the streets in a city rife with random shootings, and give them nothing.
They got a valuable lesson instead that I hope isn't lost on them.

[elder]

dumb arse...but why not filing charges? the boy did produce a weapon...fake or not and caused a huge tax bill for a broke city...they were probably up to no good because they fled as soon as the 50 rolled up on them

[Judy]

This is a known gang area. All these kids had to do was listen to the police request. The Chief says it's a tragedy? The tragedy is that we send people out to protect us and then feel sorry for the potential criminal who won't follow simple rules. Beck needs to back his men, not make excuses for future thugs.

[len]

Before the little boys mommy can talk to a lawyer she should be asked why her 13yr old little boy has a pellet gun at night in a gang infested area. Did she even know where her kid was?? NO. Put her in jail for a little while and make her accountable. The police take another bad rap that they don't deserve.

[Milhouse]

This kid was asking for it, sorry to say. Walk around a known gang area, with what looks like a gun, you're just asking for trouble. If the officer didn't shoot him a gang member probably would have. And they would have gone for a kill shot and this little boy, and I use the term loosely, would have been dead. As much as I despise the PD and how they get away with things, this was clearly justifiable.

[Malby]

Why no charges ? They evaded police. If THIS ends up in court with the mother of the adult-size 13-year old carrying a fake Beretta looking for a big payday, then PICK ME FOR THE JURY. Criminal negligence is what the parents should be looking at here.

[TheBigPicture]

5-7 200 bls...no wonder he's suicidal...

Keep the food stamps coming...

[Macca Doo]

This is a RACIST country, period. One generation teaches it to the next. It never ends.

[sam]

Sick officers. Its surprising that LAPD comment "they anticipated that no criminal charges would be filed against any of the three juveniles" instead of issuing charges against these officers. These officers should be prisoned for life.

[norma carlyon]

The parents should be charged, fined, and on probation, with CPS at their door weekly.

[Murray Frith]

Seems like suicide by cop to me...

[Jay C]

The parents need to be held responsible for these hoodlums. How did these kids obtain these pellet guns if you have to be 18 years of age to purchase one in California. Who shoots pellets at each other i bet these kids were up to no good and trying to rob other citizens.

[maduceone]

This has been going on for decades. I, in fact, thought that selling replica toy guns was illegal. Of course, the logic is rather strange to start with - stop selling toy replica guns so that when the LAPD shoots a kid with a gun, they can be certain it's a real one. Unfortunately, I now live in Florida where gun laws have been weakened to the point where the next legislation will probably allow (or maybe require) everyone to pack a firearm - except, of course, criminals, who will be required to wear a tee shirt or visible sign that says "criminal" at all times.

[syscom3]

sam, charge the officers for what? Are you being sarcastic? LOL

[rascal]

Sam, Pull your head out!

[Montana Gold-]

I guess you people never heard of 'planting' fake evidence. No 13 year old would point a fake gun at a cop. Cop got trigger happy, threw a fake gun to cover his tracks, case closed. If i shot your mother, i will simply say she reached in h er pockets too fast. Stupid sad pathetic humans, believing what's written down on ink. The Long Beach man, with a corresponding call saying he had a gun, DID deserve it. I doubt this kid was armed, they ran, cop took a shot, planted a weapon. You people have no idea how police operate in the "real world".

[rfkolbe]

I think all handguns -- of any type should be banned from the general public.
The police should be able to carry them and the very specially permitted. But to allow pellet guns, and regular handguns in the hands of the general public puts our police officers and the public at risk.

Out of nowhere (because they are very small) a handgun is produced, used and in most cases, the suspect GETS AWAY. You cannot do that with a rifle.

I favor the right to bear arms -- but not handguns.

thanks LA Times for this forum.

[kuruc]

were they illegals?

[recoverd]

This is truly a tragedy. Why is it that young white males doing the same thing never get shot? All parents of color please educate your children especially your male children! Otherwise you too may possibly become the victim of an officer "fearing for his life!"

[kiwina]

200 lbs 13 year old. WOW, child obesity is really out of control in this country.

[Hairdryer]

Tragic.

I'm glad the boy is alive and I hope he will recover.

Who allows the manufacturing of these products as well as the marketing that encourages the public to buy them for kids? I think everyone knows the answer to that question.

I'm sure many kids in the US will be getting toy guns, water pistols and similar toy weapons for for xmas.

My hairdryer has a similar shape of a gun and literally exploded as I was drying my hair. I'm lucky that I was physically injured when the fan blasted into pieces as it was pointed directly at my head.

People may want to close their windows when drying their hair too.

Hope this information helps.