This morning, at around 10 am, Police Chief William J. Bratton has scheduled a news conference to talk about the rising number of firearm assaults on police this year.
Saturday night, a little after 11pm, I was on and off the phone in my living room. The television was on and the lights were off. It was then that the room suddenly filled with a metallic beam of white light and the sound of a helicopter cut through the air. When I went to the window, I saw a white column of light illuminating the streets and buildings around my apartment. The helicopter circled around - blasting light through my window with each pass.
Below, on the street, several police cars drove slowly, examining the dark alleys with flood lights. The helicopter's circles grew wider. Something was happening.
It started just a short distance away- on Sierra street, just north of Flora avenue near Lincoln High School.
Officers James Tuck, 26, and his training officer- 18 year LAPD veteren John Porras- pulled over a black honda, which had been reported stolen on July 28th. After stopping, Jose Perez jumped out of hte passenger seat and ran towards the officers, raking the police car with shots from an AK-47. He fired into the front of the police car with bullets that pierced the windshield and stabbed through James Tuck's protective vest into his stomach and lower back. Another bullet nearly severed Tuck's left hand at the wrist.
Meanwhile, John Porras rolled out of the car and shot Perez in the leg. After getting shot, Perez dropped his rifle and ran away, but was arrested ina nearby yard and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The honda's driver drove away, then abandoned the car on Gillig Avenue, a block north of the shooting, and started running.
The police were searching for this man late saturday night, while I watched from my window.
Eventually, several neighbors yelled and pointed underneath a car, where the man was hiding.
Both are being charged with attempted murder of a police officer. Yesterday, doctors at USC University Hospital tried to save James Tucker's hand.
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