Suspect Wounded By Deputy In Van Nuys Restaurant
VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) – A male suspect was shot and wounded by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy Monday afternoon in a Van Nuys restaurant after the deputy witnessed what he thought may be a drug deal, the Sheriff's Department said.
A second man was arrested and two more remain at large, the Sheriff's Department reports.
The shooting occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. at Van Nuys Boulevard and Valerio Street. According to the sheriff's department, a transit service deputy was on a lunch break at a Cuban restaurant when he witnessed four Hispanic men in a patio area conducting what he thought may be a drug deal.
As the deputy approached, two of the men walked away, the Sheriff's Department said. The deputy then detained the other two. He patted down one of the men, but as he was in the process of patting down the second, that man pulled out a gun.
The deputy responded by firing his own gun, hitting the suspect in the torso. The suspect was transported to a hospital and at last report was in serious condition. The deputy was not hurt.
The second suspect was taken into custody. No names were released.
A gun belonging to the injured suspect was recovered at the scene, LASD said.
Authorities are still searching for the other men who fled. Investigators are seeking out any security video in the area.
Van Nuys was shut down between Valerio and Wyandotte streets as of 8 p.m. while homicide detectives examined the scene.
Transit service deputies work for the Sheriff's Department Transit Policing Division, which provides policing services for Los Angeles County Metro and Metrolink.