SWAT Officer Killed After L.A. Standoff

[Broncochica]

Very sad day for all LAPD officers, my heart goes out to the injured and fallen Officer of the LAPD. Here is some more information on the case.


Five people, including a SWAT officer and the gunman, are dead after a nightlong standoff at a Los Angeles home, police said Thursday morning.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23045755/from/ET/


Police: 5 dead in LA standoff By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer
7 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - A man barricaded himself in a house after telling police he had killed three relatives, then opened fire on a SWAT team Thursday. Five people, including an officer and the gunman, were killed, police said.

The standoff began about 9 p.m. Wednesday night in a house in the San Fernando Valley. Nearly six hours later, police lobbed tear gas into the home and hit it repeatedly with a battering ram. Less than 90 minutes later, the house could be seen on fire.

Two officers were shot inside the home shortly after they arrived, Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference.

McDonnell said police later exchanged gunfire with the suspect again and he went down. After the fire, the suspect was taken into custody and pronounced dead at the scene.

Both officers were taken to Northridge Medical Center, where one of them, 51-year-Randal Simmons, died just after 1 a.m., McDonnell said. The other, 51-year-old James Veenstra, was undergoing surgery, and was expected to survive, McDonnell said.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he had visited with the family of the slain officer. Simmons leaves a wife and two children. Veenstra's wife is a captain on the force.

"This is a very horrible tragedy and our hearts go out to all the members of the LAPD who also are grieving at this time," Villaraigosa said.

[CBF1]

First I have heard about this... I live in the Valley as well. What city Chica

[Broncochica]

West Valley Division, in Winnetka.

[CBF1]

Winnetka is the town just west of me, like 2 miles.... Honest this is a good hood

[Broncochica]

Originally Posted by CBF1

Winnetka is the town just west of me, like 2 miles.... Honest this is a good hood

That's what they have been reporting all morning long that this is a quiet, good area...Domestic Violence can happen in any freakin area and are the most deadliest calls for Officers to take.

[Blueflame]

Sad news, Chica... prayers for the officers and their families...

[Los Broncos]

Someone was talking about this at work today, very sad.

My thoughts go out to the family.

[CBF1]

From what I saw on TV, the neighbors all say that the house was a gang member hang out. Sweet I live in gangland America

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by CBF1

From what I saw on TV, the neighbors all say that the house was a gang member hang out. Sweet I live in gangland America

Come home Homie! Here you just have to worry aout illegals underbidding your work and me stopping by to empty your scotch bottles.

[CBF1]

Originally Posted by TailgateNut

Come home Homie! Here you just have to worry aout illegals underbidding your work and me stopping by to empty your scotch bottles.

You know I would if I could... Denver just does not pay crapola in my field or I would have already been there a long time ago

[Broncochica]

Originally Posted by Blueflame

Sad news, Chica... prayers for the officers and their families...

Thanks Blue


“I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly excepted the fact of eternal loneliness
...should I fall. I have seen the face of terror and felt the stinging cold of fear. I have loved, cried, suffered, and hoped, but most of all, I have lived times others would say were “best forgotten”. At least some day I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was - A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER!” (Source Unknown Author Anonymous)