Officer Wounds Man Carrying Shotgun

A Los Angeles police officer shot and wounded a man carrying a loaded shotgun in the lobby of a Van Nuys apartment complex Tuesday night, authorities said.

Officer Rodney Gregson, 38, fired a single shot at Stephen Perez, 24, after Perez refused several orders to drop his weapon and turned the gun toward police, Detective Ron Karlson said Wednesday.

Perez was treated at Holy Cross Medical Center for a bullet wound to his left arm, and then arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and spousal abuse. It was unclear why Perez had the gun, Karlson said.

Karlson said Gregson went to the apartment complex in the 6200 block of Kester Avenue about 8 p.m. to investigate a complaint of a man with a shotgun causing a disturbance. Witnesses told police that a man carrying a shotgun and a baby was wandering around the complex.

Officers found Perez in the lobby of the building, carrying the 12-gauge shotgun but not the baby, Karlson said. Perez refused several orders from officers to drop his weapon, Karlson said.

Gregson attempted to kick the gun out of Perez’s hand but was unsuccessful.

As Perez moved to avoid Gregson’s kick, he turned the weapon toward the officer, who fired a single shot from his .38-caliber revolver, Karlson said.

Perez apparently had been arguing with his wife earlier in the evening, Karlson said.