LOS ANGELES -- Two sheriff's deputies and a suspected gunman were
wounded Monday in a shootout in the Florence area of Los Angeles County,
authorities said.
Deputies Adam Kirste, 29, and Omar Miranda, 29, were taken to St. Francis
Medical Center in Lynwood and treated for non-life-threatening wounds,
Undersheriff Larry Waldie said.
The suspect, identified as Juan Carlos Campos, 33, was taken to Harbor-UCLA
Medical Center, with four gunshot wounds, Waldie said. Campos' injuries were
also described as "non-life-threatening."
"Both deputies are fine," Waldie said. "One deputy, Omar Miranda, was shot in
the elbow and in the hand. "Deputy Adam Kirste was shot in the leg and
through the buttocks. Both are fine. They're both in good spirits, so thank God
everything's good."
A female driver was also taken into custody, according to reports from the
scene.
The shooting occurred at about 10:15 a.m. near Compton Avenue and 70th
Street. Waldie said the deputies, both of whom have been with the
department for seven or eight years, were making a traffic stop when a
computer check showed the vehicle was somehow connected to a felony
domestic violence case.
Waldie told reporters at a midday news conference that the suspect bolted
from the deputies. One of the deputies tackled the suspect, who got up and
fled again, firing a handgun, Waldie said.
"Obviously, the suspect shot first," Waldie said. "When he turned and ran the
second time, he turned on them (the deputies) while running and capped off
his (gun) at the deputies, hitting both of them. These deputies responded in a
remarkable manner -- both being hit -- and both returned fire to the suspect."
Waldie said Campos was hit once in the arm and twice in the leg. He also had
a "grazing wound" on the face.
Waldie said "there is never" a routine traffic stop as far as law enforcement
officers are concerned.
"This is 10:15 in the morning," Waldie said. "And thank God it was a two-man
car. If it hadn't been a two-man car, I don't know what would have happened.
The deputies are fine ... When you make a (felony) stop ... and (he) comes
out gunning, and the deputies are trained ... (They) did a great job."
