During hunt for gunman, LAPD shoot newspaper delivery women [View all]

[Liberal_in_LA]

During the manhunt for former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner Thursday, Los Angeles and Torrance police were involved in two shootings in Torrance. In a multi-page online manifesto, Dorner implicated himself in the recent fatal shootings of an Irvine couple as well as two shootings Thursday morning targeting police officials. Police are in the process of tracking down Dorner, who is apparently on a killing rampage aimed at law enforcement, and the shootings today occurred when police came across vehicles similar to that of the suspect.

The first officer-involved shooting happened at about 5:20 a.m. in the 19500 block of Redbeam Avenue in Torrance, according to the L.A. Times. Two women delivering newspapers in a truck were struck by gunfire by L.A. police detectives from the Hollywood division. One woman was shot in the hand and the other in the back, Jesse Escochea, who captured video of the victims being treated, told the Times. Both victims were transported to a hospital.

The Times describes the crime scene: "After the shooting, the blue pickup was riddled with bullet holes and what appeared to be newspapers lay in the street alongside."

The second incident occurred at Flagler Lane and Beryl Street about 5:45 a.m. and involved Torrance police. No injuries were reported.

Officials say both vehicles matched the description of the suspect vehicle. Police have confirmed that the occupants of the vehicles are not related to the Dorner case. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said of the first shooting during today's news conference, "Tragically, we believe this was a case of mistaken identity by the officers," according to City News Service. Beck added that the vehicle was being driven "in the area of one of our primary protection details, one of the people that was under the most serious level of threat." He continued, "The LAPD officers assigned observed a vehicle matching the suspect's vehicle driving down the street with the lights turned out." And they opened fire on the vehicle.

http://laist.com/2013/02/07/police_shoot_motorists_mistaken_for_dorner.php