By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-10 16:20:57 | Updated at 2026-06-15 18:06:13
5 days ago
An LAPD officer is lucky to be alive after a gunman’s bullet became lodged in the cop’s body armor during a wild police shootout in Los Angeles.
Newly released photos show just how close the violent confrontation Tuesday in Boyle Heights came to being a deadly tragedy.
One striking image reveals a bullet hole punched through the front of the officer’s ballistic vest after the suspect opened fire at pursuing officers during the chase.
The round struck the officer squarely in the chest, but his bulletproof vest absorbed the impact and likely saved his life.
Other photos show gunfire damage to an LAPD patrol vehicle, including bullet holes in the side door and windshield.
The violence erupted shortly after 2 p.m. near Garnet Street and Marietta Street after a pursuit that began near Washington Boulevard and Alameda Street in Vernon.
According to the LAPD, an officer spotted the suspect driving with a gun, triggering a chase that stretched roughly 2.5 miles.
The pursuit ended when the suspect crashed the stolen pickup truck into a barrier.
Police said the suspect then jumped from the vehicle, ran and began firing at officers.
The suspect suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital, where police said he was in critical condition and undergoing surgery.
Photos from the scene also showed a semi-automatic handgun on the ground and dozens of evidence markers scattered across the roadway as investigators continued processing the scene.
Officers returned fire as the suspect continued shooting.
Footage showed the officer who was struck by the bullet speaking with paramedics and pointing toward his chest before he was taken to a hospital.
Authorities said he is expected to recover.
“These images from today’s Officer-Involved Shooting serve as a reminder of the very real dangers our officers face every single day. We are extremely fortunate that our officer is in stable condition tonight after being struck in the chest — with the ballistic vest stopping what could have been a far more serious, even deadly, outcome,” the LAPD said in a statement.
