Sheriff's deputy shot earlier this month is released from hospital
A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy trainee who was shot in the face by a reputed gang member during a shootout in East Los Angeles this month was released from the hospital Saturday, department officials said.
Capt. Henry Romero of the East Los Angeles sheriff’s station said that Deputy Mohamed Ahmed, 27, was allowed to go home although he is still undergoing medical treatment for wounds he received in the Jan. 11 shooting.
According to the Sheriff's Department, Ahmed and his training officer were on patrol in East Los Angeles about 7:15 p.m. when they saw 37-year-old Nestor Torres -- on parole from a felony gun conviction -- acting suspiciously in a parked car at North Brannick Avenue, near Floral Drive in the unincorporated City Terrace area.
When the deputies approached him, a struggle ensued, sheriff’s officials said, and Torres shot Ahmed in the face, prompting Ahmed's training deputy to return fire, killing Torres.
Ahmed was admitted to County-USC Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition. Doctors placed wiring in Ahmed's jaw, performed surgery on one eye and inserted a breathing tube into his windpipe.
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--Dan Weikel
Top photo: Deputy Mohamed Ahmed, 27. Bottom photo: Nestor Torres, 37, pictured in a previous jail booking photo. Credit: Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Deputy Ahmed: As a Canadian police officer I can only wish you the very best to you and your family in your recovery. May God Bless you and I and many other Emergency Service Workers in Toronto, Canada wish you the best. Thank you for your brave and dedicated service and thanks and God Bless to your training oficer who reacted so quickly to your being shot. I am sure that your training officer carries a heavy burden given what happened. God Bless to both of you.
Posted by: Brian | January 22, 2011 at 09:31 PM
Good luck Ahmed
Posted by: j | January 22, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Happy to hear he is recovering, best wishes, and thank you to this courageous officer.
Posted by: RabidinL.A. | January 23, 2011 at 12:45 AM
Glad to hear you are heading home. I wish Deputy Ahmed a speedy recovery, and hope he is soon back on the streets protecting the public.
Posted by: AmRhyy | January 23, 2011 at 07:45 AM
Glad to hear the Deputy is doing well. Also that the loser gang member is toast.
Posted by: Thinline72 | January 23, 2011 at 08:07 AM
I'm glad he's out of the hospital and this tragedy should remind everyone the dangers law enforcement officers face. It's easy to think they're just being jerks, when in fact they're looking out for their safety. I'm not saying there are no jerks in law enforcement, because there are jerks in every profession.
There are however, too many dirt bags with firearms. These idiots often kill innocent bystanders, other dirt bags, and use them against officers. More gun legislation is no good, but there should be stiffer penalties for those who commit crimes involving firearms as well as the mere illegal possession of a firearm.
Posted by: John | January 23, 2011 at 09:04 AM
Ahmed, please return to the Job!!!!
Posted by: 9mm | January 23, 2011 at 11:26 AM
It's nice to see a happy ending. A deputy returns home to recover from his life threatening ordeal. And the gangster is now wormfood. Love it!
Posted by: u know | January 24, 2011 at 02:42 PM
Hang in there Deputy Ahmed, and never ever give up. Wishing & Praying for you for a speedy full recovery. Thank you for your dedicated service. Just take it one day at a time......
Posted by: LA | February 06, 2011 at 07:21 PM