Off-duty LASD deputy shoots man he found rifling through his personal vehicle, investigators say

LOS ANGELES - A man was hospitalized Tuesday morning after being shot by an off-duty deputy in the Palms area of Los Angeles.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, an off-duty LASD deputy sheriff saw a man inside his personal vehicle around 5 a.m. in the 8000 block of Regent Street. When he attempted to make contact with the suspect, the man exited the vehicle and lunged towards the deputy, prompting the deputy-involved shooting.

Investigators said that the 25-year-old suspect was struck once by gunfire in the upper torso. The unidentified man was transported to a local hospital with a non-life threatening injury.  

The off-duty deputy was not injured, according to the LASD.

LASD Homicide Bureau detectives responded to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deputy-involved shooting.

Anyone with information about this incident was urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.