Results tagged “pacific theaters” from Crime & Courts

I received an e-mail yesterday from a reader whose wife and sons were in the El Segundo theater lobby in April when a gang member pulled a gun and shot at two police officers, wounding both. The officers killed him.

The reader, grateful that the officers prevented his family from being hurt, wondered how Lt. Ray Garcia, left, and Officer Scott O'Connor are doing in their recoveries. Just by chance, I was already working on a story about Garcia, who I talked with extensively Thursday morning. I turned the story in earlier today.

It is scheduled to run Monday, unless something in the world requires a change in the news planning. So look for it.
(And I'll check up on O'Connor and the other victim, Devan Jackson, soon.)

Devan Jackson, the bystander shot in the leg in the April 11 gunbattle between police and a gang member at the El Segundo theaters, has finally found a job.

Remember how he was fired from his position at an El Segundo travel agency a few days after he was shot in the leg, causing him to miss work?

Well, Devan let me know today that he's working on clients' cases for attorney Larry H. Parker of  "Larry H. Parker got me $2.1 million" fame. Devan is finishing up his first week at Parker's office in Long Beach.

Devan and I have e-mailed each other a few times since I interviewed him and he's definitely a good man.

Although he still has a bullet in his leg, he's on the road to complete recovery.

He sent this along today:

"I knew I would be OK. God is capable of getting you through anything. You must just keep faith. Mom always tells me things will get better before they get worse."

I received an email asking for updates about the conditions of the two El Segundo police officers wounded in April in the gunbattle with a gang member at the Pacific theaters.

Officer Scott O'Connor and Lt. Ray Garcia remain off work, recovering at home. As I reported before, Garcia requires several surgeries during the next year to repair damage to his jaw.

"They both plan to return to work when they are able to," El Segundo police Lt. Bob Turnbull said.

The officers were shot while interceding in a dispute between ex-convict Jonathan Taylor, 24, and theater employees. Taylor became upset when he was denied a ticket refund, pulled a gun and began shooting. The officers killed him.

O'Connor was hit in the shoulder and arm.

Hawthorne resident Devan Jackson, who was in line for tickets, was wounded in the leg. He also is recovering at home and told me recently he is off his crutches.

The El Segundo Police Officers Association has established a trust fund for their two wounded officers and their families.

Donations may be made to the “El Segundo Police Heroes Fund” on behalf of Lt. Ray Garcia and Officer Scott O’Connor at the Washington Mutual Bank branch, 130 E. Grand Ave., El Segundo, California, 90245.

O’Connor and Garcia were wounded Friday night in a gunbattle with a parolee in the Pacific theaters lobby. The officers killed the gunman.