Suspect Charged with 4 Counts of Attempted Murder on Police Officers After a 10-Minute Vehicle Pursuit

Los Angeles:  Two LAPD Police Officers injured, two police cars totaled, and seven pedestrians targeted in North Hills. 

Around 12:40 a.m., on Wednesday, August, 1, 2007, Jimmy Giron, a 26 year-old, male, Hispanic from Panorama City went to visit his ex-girlfriend in the 8500 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, in North Hills. After a heated exchange of words, he left the establishment, got into a white 1996 Dodge panel van and attempted to run over seven pedestrians. Two of the pedestrians were struck, treated for minor injuries and released at the scene. 

After striking the pedestrians, the suspect attempted to evade police and drove onto the 118 Freeway from Sepulveda Boulevard.  After colliding with a car on the freeway that spun the van in the opposite direction, Giron began driving the wrong way on the freeway, exiting off the onramp.

The pursuit resumed on City streets.  At one point the suspect suddenly slammed on his brakes and backed into the pursuing black and white patrol car.  As a result of the suspect's actions, two officers were injured.  One officer received a broken wrist, and the other was treated for minor injuries caused by the air bag deploying.  Both officers were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The suspect continued his rampage and rammed yet another patrol vehicle.  Police officers in this patrol car were not injured. In total, the suspect attempted to collide with pursuing units on three occasions. He eventually abandoned his vehicle and tried to get away on foot.  Officers took him into custody without further incident at Sepulveda and Roscoe Boulevards.

Suspect Jimmy Giron will be charged with 4 counts of attempted murder on a police officer, 3 counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a police officer and 3 counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon for the pedestrians.

Digital photographs of one of damaged police cars are available at Media Relations Section.

For additional information, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Comments

[JB]

I wonder if the outcome would have been different if the officers involved had defended themselves during this deadly assault. Of course since we are not allowed to shoot at a driver who is attempting to kill us with his vehicle; officers are injured. How long before one of gets killed because of this policy?

[LAPD Ofcr]

Wow,
Wonder what would of happened to that guy if he would have done that in Texas, Oklahoma, or Pennsylvania? Oh, I know the police would have been able to defend themselves. Hey cheif do you think that guy would have done that if he knew we could defend ourselves. I don't think so.

Sincerely,
All of LAPD

[ABC Officer]

JB,

That was the first thought that came to mind when I read this. Then I read your comment. I don't think I need to say more.

[Erik]

I am a police officer in Oregon and I can tell you if a suspect displayed actions as he did to the LAPD, deadly force would have been used and he would not of had the opportunity to attack another officer in another police vehicle. God bless all the officers in Los Angeles having to put up with policy changes provoked by politics. You do a job for a department that I could not.

[Anthony]

This is rediculous.. This guy should have been shot and stopped. He tried to kill two sets of police officers. Now officers have to try to get out of the way. What is it going to take Chief? Officers are going to die because of this don't shoot at moving vehicle policy. A vehicle is a deadly weapon. The second time he tried to run over the police car he should have been stopped. But now cops are second guessing themselves and they are not sure. Well i'm sure, the policy sucks!

[Larry]

Wait a second!!! We are already getting killed!!!! That 'not shooting at a moving vehicle' rule is ridiculous! When someone continues to use his vehicle as a weapon, then it's deadly force time! Do we not remember that holocaust survivor that was killed in Tarzana? How about the fact that in the North Hollywood shootout, that over 1100 rounds were fired and yet no innocent people lost; yet jump over to Santa Monica and you have one old man with an accelerator pedal and you get TEN people dead, including an infant child. How about someone take a look at ODMP.ORG and look at how many vehicular assaults there are, especially the ones that end up in fatalities. Also, how did we lose two officers this week? Vehicles are deadly weapons!!!!

[Citizen Viewpoint]

Larry is on point, Chief. I think this decision was an example of fixing something that was not broken. As a leader, you might want to revisit this decision before your attrition rate gets worse in the saddest manner possible.