Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA — On Monday, December 14, 2015, at around 2:40 a.m., an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department police officer shot a suspect who tried to steal his car, police said.
The officer was near his personal vehicle, which was parked legally at the curbside in the 500 block of Wheeling Way. The officer saw the suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Joshua Villavicencio, coming toward him. The suspect demanded the keys to the officer’s vehicle in an attempt to carjack the vehicle.
The officer saw that the suspect was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, and an exchange of gunfire occurred.
The suspect was struck by gunfire and was taken into custody by responding LAPD Hollenbeck patrol units. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded and the suspect was taken to a local hospital where he received medical treatment.
The handgun the suspect was armed with was recovered at scene by investigators. The suspect was arrested and booked for attempt murder. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office for filing consideration.
The officer was not injured during this incident.
Force Investigation Division responded to the incident and will conduct the investigation
