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Rookie LAPD Officer Wanted In Connection With Killing After Going A.W.O.L.
Authorities are looking for a rookie LAPD officer who did not show up for work the next day after after a fatal shooting.Henry Solis, a 27-year old officer in the Devonshire Division in the San Fernando Valley, is only considered a "person of interest" and not a suspect in the fatal shooting of Salome Rodriguez in Pomona early Friday morning. Pomona Police say the shooting took place at Third and Main Streets around 3:30 a.m. after a fight broke out at a bar in downtown Pomona. The 23-year old Rodriguez was taken to a hospital where he later died. Solis was off-duty at the time of the shooting.
He did not report to work on Saturday and was could not be reached by phone by his superiors. LAPD spokesman Commander Andrew Smith told the L.A. Times that Solis graduated from the academy and joined the police in June last year, and that he had an "unremarkable" history so far. "We're obviously going to cooperate with [Pomona Police] to every extent we can to provide them with any information they need," said Smith.
"We don't know what his level of involvement is, but we want to talk to him," said Corporal Rich Martinez of the Pomona Police Department. In a statement, Pomona police say, "We have reason to believe that he knows the Police are looking to talk with him."
Solis is a Pomona resident and is described as 5 foot 9 and 185 pounds. He drives a silver or grey 2013 Volkswagen Jetta with the license place 7FAS527. Anyone with information is being asked to call the Pomona Police Department at (909) 620-2085.
Update (5:00): Solis' car was found this afternoon near the scene of the shooting, reports the L.A. Times. Solis remains at large.
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