March 16--The search for gunmen who opened fire on two plainclothes Los Angeles police officers Sunday evening has ended with three people being detained and a small stretch of a residential street in South L.A. closed for the investigation.
The search wrapped up after midnight and now detectives are canvassing 65th Street off Broadway for shell casings and other evidence tied to a shooting that occurred about 5:45 p.m. Sunday, police said.
According to police, the two plainclothes officers were assigned to the 77th Street Division narcotics section and were driving in an unmarked police car.
"These [officers] were in plainclothes, in an area known for gang activity, narcotics sales and distribution," Richter said. "Now whether they were targeted as officers, that'll be determined. When you're a gangster and you're on the corner and you're illegally selling narcotics and a car drives up and two people get out -- that's going to cause some problems."
It did not appear the officers were caught in an exchange of gunfire. Both suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Paramedics removed bullet fragments from one of the officers' arms.
The three people who have been detained have not been arrested, police said.
Junior Moore, 54, said he was eating at Hercules Burgers at Broadway and Gage Avenue when the gunfire erupted Sunday about 5:45 p.m.
"I heard like 20 shots, and then a bunch of police sirens," Moore said. Priscilla Gutierrez, 17, lives two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
She was on her way home from dinner with her mother and sister when they saw police tape blocking off their street. Police told them it could take up to eight hours before they'd be allowed to return home.
The family was among about 50 residents clustered behind police tape at Gage and Broadway. Neighbors snapped photos as dozens of police cars arrived on scene and officers brought out SWAT gear, including long black rifles.
They watched as three large armored SWAT vehicles entered the crime scene. Gutierrez, who moved to the neighborhood two weeks ago, said she has heard gunfire erupt in the blocks near her house multiple times since Friday.
"We've been hearing gunshots," she said. "We don't go outside."
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UPDATE
10:12 a.m.: This post is updated with search ending, three detained and new details.
This post was originally published at 7:01 a.m.
