An investigation continued Saturday after Los Angeles police officers fired their weapon at a man who was suspected of shooting at a police helicopter in the Manchester Square neighborhood of South Los Angeles.
Police said officers initially responded to a call on W. 76th Street near Van Ness Street at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and found a man, later identified as 57-year-old Anthony Whitsey, standing in the front yard of his home with a pistol.
As Whitsey saw the LAPD helicopter overhead, he fired three to five rounds at air unit, the LAPD said. Air crew officers were onboard the helicopter, according to police.
Officers on the ground then ordered Whitsey to drop his weapon, but the LAPD said the man refused to comply, prompting the officers to open fire.
Even after being shot, the suspect remained at his front yard, still rejecting the call for surrender.
When officers fired multiple rounds of rubber bullets, the suspect ran into the house and barricaded himself inside the home.
Whitsey was eventually taken into custody by SWAT officers after being bit by a K-9, the LAPD said.
The man was taken to a hospital for injuries and was booked for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. The LAPD clarified the suspect was not struck by actual gunfire.
No officers or other community members were injured during the ordeal.
The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division was leading the investigation into the officer shooting.