Cops Shoot Baby Used As Shield

LAPD Says Father Fired First After Hours-Long Standoff

(CBS/AP)  A toddler was shot and killed when her father used her as a shield in a gunbattle with police following an hours-long standoff, officials said. The man also died and an officer was wounded.

The man killed Sunday night after an hours-long standoff was identified as Jose Raul Lemos, and the girl, about 17 months old, was his daughter, police said. The SWAT officer, who was not identified, was shot in the shoulder and was expected to recover.

"He was using the baby as a shield," Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.

The man had a 9 mm handgun and a shotgun and was intoxicated on drugs and alcohol, police said. KCBS-TV reporter Greg Mills say police believe Lemos was distraught over a family matter, possibly a custody battle.

"We showed a tremendous amount of restraint, but unfortunately the suspect's actions dictated this," McDonnell said. "It's a true tragedy."

The child's mother, Lorena Lopez, said she pleaded with officers to hold their fire.

"He had problems with depression, his business was not doing well," Lopez told a local television station. "I told them that he needed help, he needs a psychologist, but please don't shoot. They didn't understand, and the police fired, like, 300 shots."