Los Angeles: A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
officer fired a warning shot into the air to disperse a hostile group of
people whose activities were rapidly escalating into acts of violence.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2010 NBA Championship Game on June 17 at around 9 p.m., a crowd of about 200 to 300 people gathered on the northeast corner of Figueroa Street and Pico Boulevard. Undercover officers from LAPD’s 77th Street Area saw some members of the crowd begin to vandalize an advertisement kiosk near a bus stop after one of them shattered the kiosk’s glass with his skateboard.
At this point, as the crowd was rapidly turning into an agitated, aggressive mob, one of the officers attempted to take the man with the skateboard into custody. Additional undercover officers who identified themselves joined the effort and formed an arrest circle around the skateboarder. However, the mob’s aggression continued to escalate, and officers were assaulted as they struggled to take two more suspects into custody.
Fearing for the safety of her officers and in an effort to break up the crowd, Sergeant Alma Burke (14 years, five months with the Department), a supervising officer at the scene, fired one round from her service pistol in an upward, easterly direction. Immediately, people began to disperse, and all three suspects were taken into custody.
Nine officers were injured during the confrontation. Injuries included numerous contusions, abrasions and a fractured nose. LAPD Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the crimes against the officers, the officer-involved shooting and the vandalism.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2010 NBA Championship Game on June 17 at around 9 p.m., a crowd of about 200 to 300 people gathered on the northeast corner of Figueroa Street and Pico Boulevard. Undercover officers from LAPD’s 77th Street Area saw some members of the crowd begin to vandalize an advertisement kiosk near a bus stop after one of them shattered the kiosk’s glass with his skateboard.
At this point, as the crowd was rapidly turning into an agitated, aggressive mob, one of the officers attempted to take the man with the skateboard into custody. Additional undercover officers who identified themselves joined the effort and formed an arrest circle around the skateboarder. However, the mob’s aggression continued to escalate, and officers were assaulted as they struggled to take two more suspects into custody.
Fearing for the safety of her officers and in an effort to break up the crowd, Sergeant Alma Burke (14 years, five months with the Department), a supervising officer at the scene, fired one round from her service pistol in an upward, easterly direction. Immediately, people began to disperse, and all three suspects were taken into custody.
Nine officers were injured during the confrontation. Injuries included numerous contusions, abrasions and a fractured nose. LAPD Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the crimes against the officers, the officer-involved shooting and the vandalism.
Wow, I've never heard of a police officer firing a warning shot into the air like that.
Posted by: patrick | July 07, 2025 at 07:32 PM
Warning shots into the air? Surely you jest. And where did this fired round come back to earth??? This is but one reason not to fire warning shots into the air. Secondly, this female supervisor apparently had no command presence at the scene. This is an embarassment to the Department. Can't wait for the Board of Rights decision on improper (and unlawful) use of a firearm.
Posted by: BCMC 11/77 | July 08, 2025 at 11:17 AM
What would've happened if that bullet fired towards Hollenbeck area hit an innocent person?
We should be able to just shoot at one aggressor in a very aggressive mob, to stop a mob attack on police officers.
If we don't have the sea near us, maybe firing into an empty bldg or car would also be better?
Posted by: Sargento | July 08, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Are the officers that were injured okay now? It must be hard being a policeman.
Posted by: ps3 | July 08, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Wow what an outrage, 9 officers injured, and the brave alma burke, fired that shot...I enjoyed this post.
Posted by: 26lcdhdtvs | July 08, 2025 at 01:39 PM
Wow, what an outrage, 9 injured officers, one brave officer used a fire arm, It must have been a violent riot..
Posted by: 26lcdhdtvs | July 08, 2025 at 01:43 PM