El Monte police shoot child molestation suspect

EL MONTE — El Monte police shot and wounded a child molestation suspect Saturday after he pulled a replica handgun on officers, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 12:30 a.m. in the 3000 block of Durfee Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Gordon said in a written statement.
The wounded suspect was described as a 41-year-old El Monte resident, however El Monte police Lt. Robert Roach asked that his name not be published to protect the privacy of the young alleged sex crime victim.
The name of the officer involved was not released.
Officers identified the the man as a suspect in a child molestation investigation and tried to arrest him at a home in the 3000 block of Durfee Avenue when the shooting occurred, El Monte police Lt. Dan Burlingham said in a written statement.
“During the apprehension, (the suspect) brandished a handgun, which was later determined to be a replica, and was shot one time in the chest by officers,” Burlingham said.
The wounded suspect was hospitalized in stable condition Saturday and was expected to be booked on suspicion of two counts of child molestation and rape, Roach said.
Officials declined to discuss the molestation investigation in detail, however Roach said the alleged molestation was ongoing for months.
“This is a severe case as far as the crime is concerned,” he said.
As is common practice when dealing with officer-involved shootings carried out by Los Angeles County police agencies, Roach said, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is assisting the El Monte Police Department in the investigation.
Burlingham said a simultaneous El Monte Police Department Internal Affairs investigation is also underway.

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