EspañolMan Hospitalized After Reportedly Being Shot by Los Angeles Police Department Officers Near Gillette Street and Bridge Street in Boyle Heights
BOYLE HEIGHTS, CALIFORNIA (September 7, 2026) – A man was shot by Los Angeles Police Department officers at a property near the intersection of Gillette Street and Bridge Street in Boyle Heights.
Los Angeles Police Department officials are saying that the incident occurred around 9:54 AM on Monday. Los Angeles Police Department officials were called to the area and reportedly encountered a man who may have been holding some type of pole or pipe.
At some point during the encounter he was shot by responding officers. Paramedics were called to the scene to help the man.
He was transported to a local area hospital to receive treatment. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Boyle Heights Police Shootings
California law places a number of limits when it comes to when police officers may use lethal force. Under California Penal Code Section 835a, deadly force is only justified when an officer reasonably believes it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat to the public or responding officers. As such, it should only be a measure of last resort. The US Supreme Court held in Graham v. Connor (1989) that force used during a seizure will be evaluated under the Fourth Amendment’s objective-reasonableness standard. Several factors will be taken into consideration when evaluating whether or not any specific use of force was reasonable.
- It matters whether the person who was injured posed any type of immediate threat.
- The nature of the weapon or object that the suspect was holding will also be taken into consideration.
- It is also important whether or not officers gave warnings or attempted to de-escalate the encounter before using force.
- Another important consideration is whether officers used appropriate distance or tactical positioning to reduce the likelihood that lethal force would be needed.
When a police officer fails to follow a safety rule promulgated by their department, this could serve as evidence of negligence and could inform the basis of a constitutional claim. Consider, for example, Hayes v. County of San Diego, 57 Cal.4th 622 (Cal. 2013). That case involved officers who responded to a domestic disturbance. Officers shot a man who approached them as he was holding a knife. The court held that the tactical decisions of the responding officers leading up to the shooting could be considered when evaluating whether or not force was reasonable in a California negligence claim.
Preserving Evidence After California Police Shootings
Police shootings remain a very common occurrence across California and the United States. According to one report by the California Department of Justice, there were an estimated 619 incidents related to suspects being seriously injured or killed during police encounters in California for the year 2025 alone. Early accounts related to police shootings can often be highly incomplete. It is therefore important that evidence related to the shooting is properly investigated and preserved.
- All of the body camera footage related to the encounter should be collected along with its metadata.
- Dispatch records and police radio transmissions prior to the shooting should be reviewed.
- Medical records related to the nature of a person’s injuries can help reveal how the shooting took place.
- All of the department policies and training materials that officers had access to should be scrutinized.
Police shootings tend to be highly preventable in many different situations. They often involve officers who are either unwilling or unable to properly de-escalate encounters. Unfortunately, police departments are not likely to accept responsibility if one of their officers seriously injures or kills a suspect. That is why it’s so important that the actions of police officers are carefully evaluated under their own department’s use-of-force guidelines and constitutional limits on force. The family of any person killed in a police shooting is able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating Los Angeles Police Department Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm were very concerned to hear about this Los Angeles Police Department shooting in Boyle Heights. It is our sincere hope that the person involved is able to make a recovery. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. There are important safety questions that still need to be considered.
Have you or a loved one been the victim of excessive force by police officers in Los Angeles? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping victims get the justice and accountability that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at 626-799-9375.
