Long Beach Police Wound Carjacking Suspect
On Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at approximately 10:05 p.m., an officer responded to the 1000 block of Stanley Avenue to investigate a suspicious person incident, which resulted in a male subject assaulting the officer and carjacking a woman’s vehicle, and an officer involved shooting.
The following information is based on the preliminary investigation:
• The officer arrived at the scene to investigate a suspicious person and suspicious vehicle call
• The officer detained the subject while he conducted a possible stolen vehicle investigation
• The officer ran the vehicle’s license plate and verified the vehicle had been reported stolen in Long Beach
• The officer attempted to take the suspect into custody, however the suspect resisted and violently assaulted the officer
• Several officers began responding to provide emergency assistance to the officer
• During the assault, the suspect disarmed the officer of his duty weapon and fled the location on foot
• The officer sustained significant injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later released
• Suspect description was broadcast over the police radio
• At approx. 10:45 p.m., the Communications Center received a call regarding a carjacking that occurred near 16th Street and Stanton Place
• The suspect description in the carjacking incident matched the description of the suspect from the assault on the officer
• Officers were able to locate the carjacked vehicle in the area of 16th Street and Alamitos Avenue, and a pursuit was initiated
• The pursuit terminated in front of a residence in the 700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and an officer involved shooting occurred
• Officers reassessed the situation and ordered the suspect to exit the vehicle
• The suspect barricaded himself inside the vehicle and SWAT responded to assist
• Negotiation attempts were made to persuade him to surrender, and when he failed to comply, rubber baton rounds were deployed
• A K-9 was also deployed, K-9 contact was made with the suspect, and he was taken into custody by SWAT
• Although he was not struck by gunfire, the suspect was transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained during the K-9 contact, and cleared for booking
• The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Damian Lopez-Sauzo of Long Beach
• Lopez-Sauzo was booked for attempt murder of a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer, resisting arrest, carjacking, felon in possession of a firearm, evading, and parole violation, and is being held at the Los Angeles County Jail without bail
• He is a documented gang-member and on active parole for narcotics related charges
• The officer’s firearm was recovered inside the carjacked vehicle
The Police Department thoroughly reviews all use of force incidents through a rigorous multi-step process that evaluates legal, policy, tactical, and equipment issues. Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation of the shooting, as they do with all officer involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County that result in injury or death.
The Long Beach Homicide Detail investigates all officer involved shootings. This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Long Beach homicide Detectives at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.