Sheriff's Department patrol car possibly struck by BB-gun pellet

An unmanned Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol car may have been struck by a BB-gun pellet in South L.A. on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Initially, sheriff’s officials believed that the parked patrol car may have been struck by gunfire while deputies were serving a warrant nearby, said Capt. James Hellmold of the sheriff’s Century Station.

But the fracture left on the car’s window was quickly determined to be from “a BB pellet at best,” Hellmold said.

The car was parked in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood.

Sheriff’s officials were in the process of setting up a containment perimeter before it became clear there had been no gunfire.

“There really was not anything found, no indication of casings or shots fired," Hellmold said.

With little to go on, he said, the search was called off.

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-- Robert Faturechi