Baby Used As Shield In Fatal Gun battle
Last Update: Tuesday, July 12, 2005. 9:39am (AEST)
Baby used as shield in fatal gunbattle
Police in Los Angeles are investigating a shootout with officers that killed a gunman and his baby daughter who he apparently used as a human shield in the battle.
Police say 35-year-old Jose Lemos clutched the 19-month-old girl and fired a pistol as he charged out of a South Los Angeles apartment building at the end of a two-hour standoff with police on Sunday.
Lemos "was using the baby as a shield", said LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who said "officers used as much restraint as humanly possible".
A special tactics police officer was shot in the shoulder during the gun battle in South Los Angeles, according to authorities. The officer is expected to recover.
Lemos "appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs and was quite despondent," police Lieutenant Paul Vernon said.
"He came out shooting randomly at the people out on the street as well as police officers."
"At the time that he was firing those shots, he was holding a 19-month-old baby in his arms," Lieutenant Vernon said.
"When officers fired in self-defence, the suspect went down, as well as the baby."
Autopsies will be conducted on Tuesday, according to Lieutenant Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Testing to determine whether Lemos was high on drugs or alcohol is expected to take weeks, he said.
The autopsy on the girl is to determine whether she was killed by police bullets, Assistant chief McDonnell said.
Police laid siege to the apartment building after Lemos retreated inside after being seen outside holding a pistol and a baby late on Sunday, according to authorities.
-AFP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1412078.htm
Last Update: Tuesday, July 12, 2005. 9:39am (AEST)
Baby used as shield in fatal gunbattle
Police in Los Angeles are investigating a shootout with officers that killed a gunman and his baby daughter who he apparently used as a human shield in the battle.
Police say 35-year-old Jose Lemos clutched the 19-month-old girl and fired a pistol as he charged out of a South Los Angeles apartment building at the end of a two-hour standoff with police on Sunday.
Lemos "was using the baby as a shield", said LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who said "officers used as much restraint as humanly possible".
A special tactics police officer was shot in the shoulder during the gun battle in South Los Angeles, according to authorities. The officer is expected to recover.
Lemos "appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs and was quite despondent," police Lieutenant Paul Vernon said.
"He came out shooting randomly at the people out on the street as well as police officers."
"At the time that he was firing those shots, he was holding a 19-month-old baby in his arms," Lieutenant Vernon said.
"When officers fired in self-defence, the suspect went down, as well as the baby."
Autopsies will be conducted on Tuesday, according to Lieutenant Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Testing to determine whether Lemos was high on drugs or alcohol is expected to take weeks, he said.
The autopsy on the girl is to determine whether she was killed by police bullets, Assistant chief McDonnell said.
Police laid siege to the apartment building after Lemos retreated inside after being seen outside holding a pistol and a baby late on Sunday, according to authorities.
-AFP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1412078.htm
