CHP officer in critical condition after being shot at traffic stop in Studio City; Suspect taken into custody
A suspect wanted for shooting a California Highway Patrol officer during a traffic stop Monday was arrested following an hours-long manhunt in Van Nuys Tuesday morning.
The shooting happened at about 7:54 p.m. in the 4500 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard, and was preceded by some sort of physical altercation between the officer and the suspect.
At some point, the suspect was able to draw a firearm and fired multiple shots at the officer, who was struck several times.
The Los Angeles Fire Department took the critically-wounded officer to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment.
He has since been reported to be in critical but stable condition.
Early Tuesday morning, Los Angeles Police Department officers revealed the suspect's identity as 33-year-old Pejhmaun Iraj Khosroabadi. His family said he has been struggling with PTSD after seeing combat with the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan.
"I think it's important we shed light on this situation because mental health is a big issue," said his cousin Shamaya Shayesteh.
Khosroabadi enlisted as a Marine in 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. The family said he was on his way to deliver toys to a cousin who has Autism.
Just before 9 a.m., it was reported that police had taken Khosroabadi into custody after reportedly finding him inside a tent on Haskell Avenue. Police found a gun and cellphone inside.
LAPD used a bloodhound to track Khosroabadi to the tent.
He was initially being held on $3 million bail, though as ot Wednesday morning that amount had increased to $10 million.
The suspect fled after shooting the officer before additional officers arrived Monday evening, prompting the large-scale manhunt. However, the Los Angeles Police Department and CHP went to an apartment complex off of Haskell Avenue in Van Nuys after receiving the license plate number of the vehicle the officer pulled over during the shooting.
Upon arrival, they discovered a white Ford Fusion matching the description of the car involved in the shooting.
Police formulated a plan to confront the suspect who they believed was barricaded inside of the apartment complex. Upon entry, authorities found only a roommate who was detained for questioning. Law enforcement proceeded to evacuate the building but did not find the suspect inside.
According to one neighbor, the officers were checking to make sure that residents weren't hiding the suspect in their apartments.
Shortly after LAPD SWAT arrived at the scene and evacuated the building, but were unable to locate the suspect. Still, authorities believe they have narrowed down the search area enough to have the suspect surrounded, calling K-9 units to the scene to assist in the search.
An investigation carried into Tuesday morning as officers continued their search, maintaining their large perimeter in the area of the apartments.
The area where the shooting occurred Monday evening was also expected to remain closed Tuesday morning due to the ongoing investigation. Laurel Canyon Boulevard, south of the 101 Freeway, was closed until around 7 a.m. as a result.
