Police shot at a 38-year-old suspect in Hollywood on Oct. 3 after the man brandished what looked like a handgun and pointed it at officers near Vine Street and La Mirada Avenue. The suspect was not struck by gunfire and was arrested after a brief foot pursuit. Officers found a lighter shaped like a handgun near the scene, police said.
The incident started around 5 p.m. on Oct. 3. The Los Angeles Police Department received a 911 call about a man with a gun at Cole and Lexington Avenues near the Hollywood Recreation Center and Pool, which was open for recreational swimming at the time.
Officers found the suspect walking on the sidewalk and ordered him to stop. The suspect, who had what looked like a handgun in his waistband, refused to comply and ran away, police said. Officers briefly lost sight of the man but an LAPD helicopter located him a short distance away on Vine Street. When officers approached the suspect, he allegedly pulled the object out of his waistband, ran across the street and pointed it at officers, who fired at the man. The suspect then ran north on Vine Street, where officers took him into custody.
No officers were injured during the incident. The suspect was taken to a hospital for minor injuries before being booked into jail. Police determined the object the suspect had was a small gold and dark metallic colored lighter shaped like a Luger pistol, but it was not a gun.
The suspect was identified as Darrell Morgan, of Los Angeles. Morgan has multiple felony arrests dating to 2023. He is being held without bail for parole violations.
Due to an ongoing investigation, no information was released about the number of shots fired or how many officers fired their weapons. The LAPD's Force Investigation Division is investigating the officer-involved shooting, which is standard protocol.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Hollywood Division at (213)972-2971, or the LAPD's hotline at (877) LAPD247.