LA County cop shot in West Covina, saved by bulletproof vest

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department motorcycle officer was shot in the back in West Covina on Monday, with a bulletproof vest likely saving his life.

The shooting happened Monday around 2:45 p.m. near the San Bernardino (10) Freeway at North Barranca Street around East Garvey Avenue while the deputy was stopped at a red light.

According to Sheriff Robert Luna, the 43-year-old deputy was in full uniform when the shooting occurred and the bullet did not penetrate the deputy’s body armor.

“Based on the examination of his vest, he was hit once,” Luna said during an early evening briefing at the shooting site.

The deputy was taken to an ambulance but was alert and conscious, with the body armor believed to have effectively stopped the bullet.

Several people of interest who “may not have been involved” in the shooting were arrested but were released as of Monday evening, Luna said.

According to reports at the scene, a witness told responding officers that the shots were fired from a white van, and authorities quickly tracked the vehicle to a home in the 600 block of Mangate Avenue in nearby La Puente.

Homicide investigators, with the assistance of the West Covina Police Department, conducted an investigation into the shooting Monday evening to locate and arrest the suspect responsible for shooting the deputy.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said the deputy is assigned to the Century Sheriff’s Station in Lynwood and was in West Covina for training.

Related Posts