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Despite a manhunt lasting over nine hours and covering a 7-square-mile dragnet set up the Los Angeles Police Department, the suspect in the shooting of a LAUSD police officer outside the campus of El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills remains at large. The search will resume this morning, according to LA Now, and the LAPD are defending their decision to mount such an extensive search for their suspect.
LAUSD officer Jeffrey Stenroos was shot by a man thought to be engaged in the attempted burglary of a parked vehicle, after Stenroos confronted the suspect. Stenroos was shot in the chest, but his protective vest stopped the bullet, which struck him close to the heart.
"A 12-block area around El Camino Real High School was sealed off most of the day and some 9,000 students from schools inside the containment area were on lockdown for hours without food or access to restrooms," notes KTLA.
During hours-long extended news coverage of the manhunt yesterday, students told reporters they resorted to sharing a single bag of almonds between them, and passed the time text messaging. By sundown, all the schools were cleared, and students were transported in stages to designated pick-up areas.
The perimeter remained in place, however, until 9:15 p.m. last night, and still the suspect was not found. The LAPD say today they plan to release a composite sketch of the man. Last night LAPD Capt. Kevin McClure said their suspect is a white male in his 40s, with long grayish hair worn in a ponytail, wearing a jeans and a dark jacket. He is about 5'9" to 5'10" with a "thin build."
Authorities assure students and residents that their neighborhood is safe today, and that "they had no regrets that people were inconvenienced."
