Two bystanders injured when LAPD shoots non-lethal at an armed suspect holding rebar and a knife
By: On June 19, 2023, around 3:20 p.m., uniformed Central Patrol officers, received a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW) suspect there now” at 8th Street and Broadway Avenue. The suspect was reported to be armed with a crowbar and a gun in his pocket.
As the officers arrived, they observed the suspect, later identified as 39-year-old Ryan Doucette, walking north on Broadway Avenue swinging a piece of steel rebar, and with an unknown type of wooden handle protruding from his waistband. As officers approached Doucette and ordered him to stop, he failed to comply. Officers broadcast a backup request as they followed Doucette to the 600 block of South Broadway Avenue and subsequently deployed Bean Bag Shotgun rounds, a 40 mm Less Lethal Launcher round, and discharged a TASER in the Probe Mode at Doucette.
Doucette was struck in the left cheek by one of the Bean Bag rounds, fell to the ground and was taken into custody. The 40 mm Less Lethal Launcher round and the TASER did not make contact with Doucette.
Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) personnel responded to the scene and transported Doucette by Rescue Ambulance (RA) to a local hospital, where he was admitted for injuries to his face.
During the incident, a woman was struck in the arm by the 40 mm less lethal round after it went through a glass door and ricocheted off the floor. Additionally, a woman and her child were struck by pieces of the glass from the door. All parties were offered medical treatment but refused.
No officers were injured during this incident.
Doucette was in possession of a 30-inch piece of steel rebar and a six-inch sheathed knife with a wooden handle. Both items were recovered as evidence.