Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Suspect Streams On Facebook Live As He Fires At Deputies In Standoff
Part of a standoff in which a suspect fired at L.A. County Sheriff's deputies was streamed on Facebook Live, reports ABC 7.
According to the L.A. Times, deputies were responding to a call about a man who was firing at passing cars at about 9:50 a.m. on Sunday. Deputies were met with gunfire when they arrived at the scene in the 16700 block of East Cypress Street in Covina—one patrol cruiser was struck.
The suspect, later identified as 20-year-old Sean Vasquez, ran away from the scene and barricaded himself in a nearby residence in the 4600 block of Roxburgh Avenue. Vazquez surrendered peacefully after speaking with family and crisis negotiators over the phone—he was taken into custody at about 1:15 p.m.
"It was actually life threatening. We're lucky our deputies didn't get hit with gunfire," Lt. Thomas Reid with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told ABC 7. "They drove up and were met immediately with gunfire. They weren't able to see where the shooter was shooting from so they took cover behind their cars."
Vasquez had streamed a portion of the standoff on Facebook Live. While it seems that the Facebook account has been taken down, several outlets had obtained the footage. In the video, Vasquez is seen firing and reloading his gun. Deputies could be heard in the background, telling Vasquez to surrender and to get on the ground. At one point, Vasquez said, "I just got in a shootout with a cop," according to the L.A. Times. He'd also streamed a part of his phone conversation with deputies. “Tell your men to stand back I’ll [expletive] walk out surrendering,” Vasquez said into a phone in footage obtained by CBS2. About eight minutes of the video can be seen on SGV CityWatch.
Vasquez was booked for assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon. No injuries were reported.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
