A university police officer who shot and wounded a 50-year-old
man in Kerckhoff Hall on Sunday night has been placed on paid
administrative leave, according to the university.
The injured suspect was taken to the UCLA Medical Center shortly
after he was shot, about 9:50 p.m. As of 2 p.m. Monday, no updates
on the man’s condition were available. Hospital officials
declined to comment on the man’s condition early Monday
morning, citing privacy issues.
According to a statement released by UCPD, the suspect was a
“non-affiliate” ““ someone who is not a UCLA
student, staff or faculty member.
The officer was patrolling the building when he encountered the
suspect, the statement said, and following a “physical
altercation,” fired out of fear for his life.
The statement said the officer fired two shots, one of which hit
the suspect. A UCPD official said it was unknown whether the
suspect was armed.
Pamela Corante, a university spokeswoman, said to her knowledge
there were no eyewitnesses of the event.
Witnesses at the police department earlier this morning said
they heard the two shots that were fired but did not see the
incident occur.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the event,
along with university police, Corante said.
“It’s a joint investigation. … UCPD cannot
investigate an incident that is its own,” she said. Corante
added that the officer involved in the shooting was placed on paid
leave as part of the department’s standard procedure.
University police officials declined to comment further on
Monday.
Police shut down Kerckhoff Hall shortly before midnight Sunday,
asking all occupants to leave the building.
Though some occupants were allowed to return after a few hours,
much of the building remained blocked off during the early morning
hours.
Kerckhoff Coffee House manager José de Jesús Ramirez
said when he arrived for work Monday morning, the police were still
investigating.
Ramirez said police, who left at about 9:30 a.m., allowed the
coffee house to open on time at 7 a.m.
Kerckhoff Coffee House is open until 11 p.m. on some weekdays,
and Ramirez said safety is a concern for students who work late at
night, but students who do not want to work late hours are
scheduled for day shifts.
Rubina Dawud, a third-year psychology and history student who
works at the coffee house, said she has only closed the shop once
and that she doesn’t “want to do it ever
again.”
“I am scared ““ that’s why I don’t work
at night,” Dawud said.