LAPD officer shot by restraining order suspect

A Los Angeles police officer was hospitalized after he was shot in Pacoima on Friday. 

It happened at about 8:20 a.m. when officers responded to a restraining order violation call in the 13200 block of Paxton Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The officers encountered the suspect, identified as 52-year-old Pete Garcia, in a back house. Despite efforts to de-escalate the situation, the officers tried to take the suspect into custody with a taser, but it didn't work. 

"During the struggle Garcia produced a pistol from his front waistband area and pointed it in the officers' direction," said an LAPD statement on Saturday. "Simultaneously, one of the officers TASED Garcia. Garcia then fired one round from his pistol at the officers."

The bullet struck a 27-year-old officer in the hand. Officers were able to wrangle the suspect into custody before the wounded officer was taken to the hospital. 

"Our officer, thankfully, is in good condition," Deputy Chief Ruby Flores said. "He was transported to a local hospital and is in a stable condition."

The suspect was not injured and has been booked and charged for attempted murder on a police officer. He is being held on $2,080,000 bail. 

Investigators determined that Garcia's firearm was a ghost gun that was recovered from the scene and booked as evidence. They also were able to deduce that the bullet likely struck a metal bed frame in the area and ricocheted fragments struck the officer's hand.