LAPD Officer Injured in Station Shooting Released From Hospital

The officer was shot Monday night when a gunman opened fire in the lobby of the LAPD's West Traffic Division in the Mid-City area

A seven-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department shot multiple times by a gunman at a police station has been released from a hospital, according to police.

The officer, whose name has not been released, was discharged from a hospital Tuesday night in good condition and is expected to fully recover, police said. The officer was wounded when a gunman opened fire at 8 p.m. Monday in the lobby of the LAPD's West Traffic Division at 4861 Venice Blvd.

The suspect remains hospitalized.

Daniel Christopher Yealu, 29, of Los Angeles, allegedly walked in and spoke with an officer before pulling out a semi-automatic pistol and firing, police said. NBC4 contacted a family member of Yealu's who declined to comment about the case.

At a news conference Tuesday, police said the officer -- shot in the upper body and limbs -- was not wearing a protective vest during what they described as a "miraculous" sequence of events. A pistol in the officer's pants pocket likely stopped what could have been the fatal round, according to police.

Investigators found the suspect's vehicle with another weapon inside at a nearby parking lot. Police later found several high-powered weapons at his home, including an AR-15 rifle and semiautomatic Sig Sauer handgun, according to investigators.

The shooting occurred during a neighborhood council meeting at the station. The building's doors are usually locked at night, but were left open for the meeting.

People at the meeting took cover when they heard gunfire outside the meeting room. No other injuries were reported.

Contact Us