A 17-year-old girl died after shooting herself with a gun she grabbed from a deputy’s holster during an altercation at the sheriff’s station in City of Industry, authorities said March 25.
The incident occurred March 24 around 7:40 p.m. at the Industry sheriff’s station at 195 Hudson Avenue in the City of Industry in eastern Los Angeles County.
“Investigators learned that on Sunday ... at approximately 7:25 p.m., Industry Sheriff’s Station deputies received a family disturbance call for service on the 300 block of Clintwood Avenue in the city of La Puente,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement March 25.
“The juvenile’s foster parent reported that the juvenile was suffering from an apparent mental health crisis. Deputies responded to the scene; however, the juvenile had already left on foot before the deputies arrived,” the statement said.
The direction in which the teenager went was unknown to officers at the time. The teenager’s home in La Puente is one mile from the Industry Sheriff’s Station.
Officials said the teen knocked on the door of the station and an altercation began. The girl then grabbed a deputy’s handgun, according to officials.
“The female reached toward the deputy’s firearm, retrieved the firearm from the deputy’s holster ... During the altercation, it is alleged that the female suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound with what we believe to be the deputy’s firearm,” Lt. Art Spencer from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told local news broadcaster ABC7.
“We believe that this incident stems from a family disturbance call that deputies had responded to prior to this incident.”
The girl, whose identity has not been revealed, was pronounced dead at the scene.
No deputies were injured, according to ABC7. Officials have not specified whether the shooting was intentional or accidental.
The investigation is ongoing, according to authorities.
Anyone with more information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800- 222-TIPS, or visit http://lacrimestoppers.org.
City News Service contributed to this report.
