Photo: Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer who was wounded during an armed robbery in an unincorporated area in the Firestone-Florence neighborhood has died, according to a union that represents LAPD officers.
''Tonight, we mourn the loss of one of our officers who was shot [and] killed in an armed robbery attempt,'' reads a tweet from the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents 9,900 officers.
``The officer was off-duty,'' the LAPPL states. ``We pray for the officer's family, and their fellow officers, during this time of pain and sorrow. This is an active investigation.''
Sheriff's deputies responded about 9:15 p.m. Monday to the 8700 block of Beach Street where they found the officer with gunshot wounds, Deputy Tracy Koerner of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs' Department's Information Bureau told City News Service.
According to authorities, a black pickup approached the officer and several suspects got out of the truck.
An argument ensued and the police officer was shot, detectives said.
Deputies took the officer to a hospital, Koerner said. The pickup drove away in an unknown direction.
A perimeter spanning several blocks was set up as deputies scoured the area for suspects.
``We don't know the circumstances that led up the shooting yet,'' Koerner said.
The police officer's name has not been released.