After finding a handgun during a search of a carload of people, officers escalate their security posture to await additional backup. Their suspect, from whom they just removed a handgun, suddenly lunges toward the vehicle which results in an officer-involved shooting.

From the report: On August 20, 2022, at around 12:00 A.M., Harbor Patrol Division officers were in the area of West 18th Street and South Pacific Avenue, in San Pedro. They observed the suspect’s vehicle parked in a handicap parking spot in front of a liquor store located in the 1800 block of S. Pacific Avenue. Upon further investigation, officers observed four occupants (the suspect, another male, and two females) inside the vehicle.

Officers had the occupants exit the vehicle one at a time. The driver and a female were detained against a nearby wall of the liquor store. The suspect remained seated in the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Upon command, the suspect exited the vehicle. During a pat down search, a Glock handgun was located in the suspect’s front waistband. The officer promptly removed the firearm from the suspect’s waistband and handed it to his partner.

Officers requested backup. The firearm was secured in their police vehicle and the suspect was ordered to his knees. While waiting for backup, both officers re-deployed to the front passenger side of their police vehicle. The officers issued a verbal command for the suspect to move away from the passenger side of the car. The suspect failed to comply, and instead suddenly lunged into the rear passenger side of the vehicle, turned towards the officers and an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) occurred.

The suspect was struck in his left hand. He subsequently dropped a cellular phone and a wallet on the nearby sidewalk and was taken into custody.

He was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital for treatment for his gunshot wound and is listed in stable condition. The suspect was later identified as 20-year-old Russell Douthit, a resident of Los Angeles. No officers or bystanders were injured during this incident.

Douthit’s Glock Model 17 handgun was recovered at scene and will be booked as evidence. Douthit was placed under arrest for 25400PC-Carrying a Concealed Weapon.