An 18-year-old accused of shooting at an LAPD patrol car in South Los Angeles over the weekend allegedly first fired shots at rival gang members, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday.
Christopher Taylor is set to be arraigned in January on two counts each of shooting at an occupied vehicle and assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic firearm, and one count of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, according to the DA's Office.
Prosecutors said Taylor is a reputed gang member.
Officers were driving about 9:30 p.m. Sunday near 62nd and Hoover streets when two people fired at their squad car, police said. The officers fired back, but the two people fled. No one was hurt.
Authorities found a rifle, a pistol and multiple shell casings, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said. A second person had not yet been caught as of Tuesday.
Prosecutors allege that during a "suspected gang retaliation," Taylor and another person opened fire on rival gang members in a car, which sped away just as an LAPD patrol car drove through the area.
Taylor could spend the rest of his life in state prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney's Office.
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The LAPD went on tactical alert through Monday morning. Some 60 officers, a SWAT team and police dogs were involved in the search, officials said.
It was not immediately clear whether Taylor had a lawyer.
