A member of the Los Angeles Police Department's elite SWAT team was shot dead in a gunbattle with a barricaded suspect in the San Fernando Valley this morning. * UPDATE: The suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police around 7:30 a.m., leaving the death toll at 5 (AP). The Mayor has lowered city flags in honor of the officer killed on duty. Randal Simmons, 51, a 27-year veteran officer with the LAPD,......

On February 28, 1997, two gunmen took 48 Bank of America customers and employees hostage before engaging in an intense gunfight with the LAPD. The 44-minute confrontation resulted in the wounding of twelve police officers and two civilians, as well as the death of the two perpetrators. Today at 4:00 p.m., Mayor Villaraigosa, law enforcement personnel, and elected leaders will gather to honor the bravery and sacrifice of those wounded during the shootout, and......

Roger Waters @ Hollywood Bowl Johnny Bennett @ Hotel Cafe Queensryche @ Gibson Gov't Mule, Donavon Frankenreiter @ Wiltern Jet @ Henry Fonda Epic @ Paladino's Man Man @ Spaceland Marc Broussard, Sara Bareilles @ Roxy Destroyer 666 @ The Westchester Christopher Blue, Alana Sweetwater @ King King Missing Dave, Pimpbot, The Crud @ Fais Do-Do Yukmouth, Chase Maron, The Carte @ Knitting Factory Airborne Toxic Event, Land of the Ill Earthquakes @ The......

FRIDAY • Brazilian Girls and Something for Rockets are at Avalon tonight at 8:30 PM. Tickets are $20. • The Nervous Return are in the Knitting Factory Front Room with Tsk Tsk, The Cinema Eye, Shoot Out The Lights and This Blush. The show starts at 8 PM and cover is $7. • Bay Area beat maestro Lyrics Born is at the El Rey with Ostrich Head, Noah King, Speech Impediments, Swamp House and......

FRIDAY • The Echo features dancehall queen Rosie Flores with Mike Stinson and Speed Buggy at 8:30 PM. Tickets are $10. [18+] • Tonight at Spaceland, enjoy a record release party for The Willowz, with special guests Scarling, My Sexual Dad and Shoot Out the Lights. Doors open at 9 PM.  • Flamenco maestro Ottmar Liebert performs tonight at The Canyon Club at 9 PM. Tickets are $39.50. • Pinback performs tonight at Avalon.......

THURSDAY • Sam Prekop (of The Sea & Cake) will be performing tonight at the Troubadour with Pit er Pat. Doors open at 8 PM. Tickets are $15. • At the Silverlake Lounge, SF/Berliners The Vanishing will perform with Dame Darcy, New Collapse and Shoot Out the Lights. Cover is $8. • Locals Killola will be performing tonight at the Viper Room with The Binges and Oliver Future. Tickets are $7 with flyer. •......