Los Angeles, California — On July 5, 2025, at approximately 3:45 p.m., uniformed officers from the Southwest Area Gang Enforcement Detail were conducting routine patrol along the Western Avenue corridor near Martin Luther King Jr. Park (MLK Park).
While on patrol, officers observed a male riding a bicycle northbound on the sidewalk. The individual was later identified as 26-year-old Ernesto Sepulveda, a local resident. Based on observations and reasonable suspicion that Sepulveda was armed with a handgun, officers initiated a pedestrian stop in the 3900 block of South Western Avenue.
When contacted, Sepulveda refused to comply and suddenly fled on foot. During the pursuit, Sepulveda removed a firearm from his waistband and opened fire on the officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS).
One officer was struck in the legs by gunfire. Despite wounding an officer, Sepulveda continued running southbound along Western Avenue. He then fired an additional round at responding backup officers.
Moments later, Sepulveda’s firearm malfunctioned, forcing him to discard the weapon before fleeing deeper into MLK Park. Responding officers pursued him on foot and employed a Non-Categorical Use of Force (NCUOF) to take Sepulveda into custody.
Following his arrest, Sepulveda was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a head laceration. He was medically cleared and released for booking.
The injured officer was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for gunshot wounds to both legs and a graze wound to his cheek. The officer remains hospitalized in stable condition. Fortunately, no other officers or community members were injured during the incident.
At the scene, investigators recovered a black, steel, Polymer 80 “Ghost Gun” chambered in 9mm, a loaded magazine, and multiple expended cartridge casings. All items were booked into evidence.
This incident is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, in accordance with standard LAPD protocol for all officer-involved shootings, ensuring transparency and accountability.
