Shots Fired at Police; Two Suspects Arrested After a Six-Hour Standoff

Two suspects who allegedly fired shotgun blasts at police officers before barricading themselves in a Bell Gardens apartment for six hours were arrested Saturday morning.

Francisco Ortega Aguilar, 19, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and Gerardo Hernandez, 19, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, said Bell Gardens Police Sgt. Greg Shepherd. The men, both of Bell Gardens, were taken to Los Angeles County Jail.

The incident began about 2:40 a.m. outside a 17-unit, two-story apartment complex at 5531 Gotham St. when two police officers responded to a “shots fired” call, Shepherd said. The officers observed a man firing what they believed to be a handgun at an unoccupied vehicle in the apartment’s parking lot.

“The officers identified themselves and ordered the individual to drop the gun,” Shepherd said. “He turned and fired several rounds at the officers, who then returned fire. The suspect fled down a driveway, and as officers followed they were met with a shotgun blast by another person.”

The suspects then disappeared into the complex and the police called for additional assistance. Sheriff’s SWAT and crisis negotiation teams arrived on the scene and set up a command post nearby.

After searching the complex, the officers arrested the suspects who had barricaded themselves in an apartment. The police also detained 12 other people for questioning. No injuries were reported.