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INDUSTRY (CNS) - Authorities Tuesday identified a 17-year-old girl who was killed in a shooting that occurred when she allegedly took a firearm from the holster of a deputy at the Industry Sheriff's Station during an altercation and wounded herself in the head.
The shooting occurred about 7:40 p.m. Sunday at the station at 150 N. Hudson Ave., the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported.
Johanna Gonzalez of La Puente died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, which listed her death as "suicide." The cause of death was listed as "gunshot wound of head," the medical examiner's office reported.
"Investigators learned that on Sunday ... at approximately 7:25 p.m., Industry Sheriff's Station deputies received a family disturbance call for service on the 300 block of Clintwood Avenue in the city of La Puente," the sheriff's department said in a statement Monday morning.
"The juvenile's foster parent reported that the juvenile was suffering from an apparent mental health crisis. Deputies responded to the scene; however, the juvenile had already left on foot before the deputies arrived," the sheriff's statement said.
Sheriff's officials said they didn't know where Gonzalez was headed at the time of the call. The distance between the La Puente home and Industry Sheriff's Station is approximately one mile.
About 7:40 p.m., Gonzalez knocked on the door of the station and gained entry, and she withdrew a deputy's handgun during an altercation that ensued, sheriff's Lt. Art Spencer told reporters at the scene.
During the struggle, the girl "suffered a self-inflicted wound," Spencer said.
An attorney for the girl's family said they want to do their own investigation into the circumstances of her death.
"Knowing her size, her physical capabilities, I find it incredibly hard to believe that she would be able to disarm a deputy who had their weapon properly holstered," attorney Delaney Miller told ABC7, which reported the girl was being fostered by her aunt and uncle.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at 800- 222-TIPS, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.