Suspect in ambush of two LAPD detectives seen on security cameras

Los Angeles police say they have separate videos of a man they believe ambushed two undercover detectives outside the Wilshire station.

At a news conference Wednesday, Police Chief Charlie Beck revealed the photo of a man thought to be 30 to 35 years old who appeared to be walking with an object in his hand.

Beck asked the public to help identify the man he called a danger to the public.

The video footage shows the alleged suspect moments after the confrontation. He is on the opposite side of Venice Boulevard from the station and walking at a deliberate pace.

Police said two undercover burglary detectives -- 11- and 20-year veterans, respectively -– were attacked about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday while waiting for the parking lot gate to open at the LAPD Wilshire substation.

Both detectives suffered minor injuries and managed to return fire, but it was unclear whether they wounded the attacker. The two returned to the scene hours later to help police find the shooter.

But despite closing a square-mile area of Mid-City most of Tuesday and detaining at least 11 people for questioning, the shooting suspect remained at large.

At its height, the manhunt involved about 200 officers, a SWAT team and air and canine units from the LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“This was a blatant attempt to assassinate two of the people who protect this community,” Police Chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday at a police commission meeting.

The gunman fired at them from behind, shattering windows in the car, and fled on foot.

Beck said the suspect can be seen on video footage that was not released hurrying across the wide boulevard away from the station.

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