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Inmate Fatally Shot in ER After Swiping Deputy's Gun
Centinela Hospital (Photo via Facebook)
In an incident that seems more suited to the script pages of an old "ER" episode, some tense, deadly drama unfolded Thursday inside the emergency room of Inglewood's Centinela Hospital involving an inmate and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies.An unidentified inmate, arrested Wednesday on drug-related charges, complained of a medical issue while in custody at the South Los Angeles Sheriff's Station, according to the LASD. The 27-year-old inmate was transported by paramedics to the hospital.
The man was accompanied by two deputies to the ER, and had one wrist handcuffed to a gurney, explains sheriff's Lt. Holly Francisco, according to City News Service. At just after 1 a.m., the inmate then tried to grab a deputy's gun while they waiting in a room assigned for triage of incoming patients. The other deputy opened fire, fatally shooting the inmate.
No one else in the ER was injured. The LASD says the investigation is ongoing.
As is standard in deputy-involved shootings in which a suspect is struck, the shooting also will be investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, the sheriff's Internal Affairs Bureau and the Los Angeles Office of Independent Review. Additionally, it will be reviewed by the sheriff's Executive Force Review Committee, explains LASD sheriff's deputy Peter Gomez.
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