Despite his arrest, a stolen vehicle suspect in Burbank is likely counting his blessings after one of the responding officers “unintentionally” fired his service weapon in his direction and pierced the windshield.
The incident, according to the Burbank Police Department, unfolded on Oct. 26 at around 1 a.m. while officers were looking for a white-colored Ford Econoline van stolen near the intersection of Buena Vista and Vanowen streets.
In footage of the incident released by police, responding officers are seen spotting the van at a stoplight less than a half mile away at Buena Vista and Victory Boulevard.
Officers made the decision to box the van in while it was sitting at the stoplight in an attempt to lessen the chance that the suspect driver might attempt to start a pursuit, police said.
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A 14-year veteran of the Burbank police department reportedly “unintentionally” fired his gun toward a suspected car thief and fellow officers on Oct. 26, 2024. (BPD) -
A 14-year veteran of the Burbank police department reportedly “unintentionally” fired his gun toward a suspected car thief and fellow officers on Oct. 26, 2024. (BPD) -
A 14-year veteran of the Burbank police department reportedly “unintentionally” fired his gun toward a suspected car thief and fellow officers on Oct. 26, 2024. (BPD) -
A 14-year veteran of the Burbank police department reportedly “unintentionally” fired his gun toward a suspected car thief and fellow officers on Oct. 26, 2024. (BPD) -
A 14-year veteran of the Burbank police department reportedly “unintentionally” fired his gun toward a suspected car thief and fellow officers on Oct. 26, 2024. (BPD) -
A 14-year veteran of the Burbank police department reportedly “unintentionally” fired his gun toward a suspected car thief and fellow officers on Oct. 26, 2024. (BPD)
In body-worn camera footage, the officer who pulled to the front of the vehicle is seen opening the patrol vehicle door, raising his weapon and firing in the direction of the suspect, as well as the responding officer at the rear of the van.
From the perspective of the camera on the police cruiser, footage shows the impact of the bullet as it strikes the upper driver’s portion of the windshield, sending smoke and shards of glass into the air.
While he was not struck with the bullet, the suspect, who was unarmed, sustained injuries, likely from shards of glass, that required medical attention. He was taken to a nearby hospital before being arrested on suspicion of stealing the van and driving under the influence, police said.
Moments after the shooting, the officer, a 14-year veteran of the department, can be heard and seen letting other responding police know that he accidentally fired his gun.
Though the shooting remains under investigation by BPD and the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office, police officials said “the investigation determined that this officer-involved shooting was the result of an unintentional discharge of the involved officer’s duty weapon.”
