VAN NUYS

Man in Alleged Drug Deal Shot by Deputy

An armed man was shot and wounded by a deputy after he was spotted in an alleged drug deal Monday outside of a Van Nuys restaurant.

The shooting occurred at around 2:45 p.m. in the 7300 block of Van Nuys Boulevard. A Transit Policing Division deputy was having lunch at a Cuban restaurant when he saw a group of four males seated on the patio, and saw at least one man using what appeared to be narcotics, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department.

The deputy walked outside and two of the males walked away. The deputy detained the other two men and conducted a weapons pat down, according to the LASD. While the deputy was patting down the second man, the first man took out a firearm and the deputy shooting occurred.

The man was shot in the stomach and was taken to the hospital in serious condition, according to sheriff's deputies.

The deputy was not injured.

Authorities are searching for the two other men in the alleged drug deal. 

A handgun believed to have belonged to the suspect was recovered, authorities said.

A stretch of Van Nuys Boulevard was shut down as authorities investigated. 

Shop owners saw the impact of the shutdown on their businesses. The owner of Vegas Flowers said he was expecting a lot of customers on the day before Valentine's Day.

"There's no way to get here," Gervork Tishcayan said.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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