EspañolUnidentified 42-Year-Old Woman Seriously Injured After Shooting With Woodland Hills Police Following Standoff
WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA (May 27, 2025) – A 42-year-old woman was seriously injured after being shot by police officers in Woodland Hills.
Los Angeles Police Department officials are saying that the incident began around 7:45 AM in Van Nuys. Officers received a report of a potential shooting.
When officers arrived at the scene, they allegedly encountered a woman who produced a handgun and pointed it at herself before getting back into a van. A slow-speed chase followed that ended along a cul-de-sac on Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills.
A standoff followed and lasted approximately 45 minutes. LAPD officials said that at least one officer fired their weapon at some point during that standoff.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the woman who was shot. She was taken to the hospital with injuries described as serious.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Police Shootings
Many people are killed or seriously injured every year by the actions of police officers across California. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “About 195 people die each year from interactions with California law enforcement. Gunshots are by far the most common cause of death: nearly 250 people are shot by police each year.” Police officers are supposed to take several measures to avoid needlessly harming suspects.
- Request backup
- Calm the situation
- Avoid physical contact
- Determine if the suspect is taking medication
- Acknowledge the suspect’s feelings
- Not make any threats
These efforts are particularly important when a suspect is potentially in the midst of a mental health crisis. Police officers are only allowed to use reasonable levels of force when dealing with suspects. When an officer uses excessive force and harms a suspect, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. Several steps should be taken after any police shooting.
- The actions of police officers leading up to the shooting should be understood.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
- A thorough investigation into the incident should be conducted.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.
Police shootings are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where officers are not following safety protocol. This is particularly true when officers are dealing with a suspect in the midst of a serious mental health crisis. Sadly, though, police departments will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if they seriously injure or kill a suspect. This is why it is so important that police shootings are investigated by an outside party.
Investigating Los Angeles County Police Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm were deeply concerned to hear about this police shooting in Woodland Hills. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Do you need additional information about a Los Angeles Police Department shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping people understand their rights and holding law enforcement accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to our office anytime at 626-799-9375.
