A suspect accused of opening fire on a patrol car in South Los Angeles earlier this month has been arrested, police announced Saturday. The incident, which left two officers injured, occurred around 9 p.m. on July 3 near the intersection of Broadway and Rosecrans Avenue, told CBS News.
Malcolm Guss Jr., 31, was apprehended on Friday on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held on $2 million bail, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The violent encounter began when uniformed patrol officers attempted to stop a white, four-door Chevrolet sedan. As the vehicle accelerated away, it abruptly stopped on Broadway, north of Rosecrans Avenue. “Before officers could exit the police vehicle, the suspect, armed with a fully automatic weapon, fired at officers without warning,” the LAPD stated. In response, Police Officer II Joshua Rodney returned fire in the officer-involved shooting.
Following the shooting, the suspect’s vehicle fled the scene. Officers pursued the sedan for approximately 200 yards but lost sight of it in the area of 135th Street and Broadway. Both officers sustained injuries from glass fragments caused by the suspect’s gunfire. One officer suffered two graze wounds, and both were taken to a hospital for treatment.
“During the ensuing investigation, police located and seized the Chevrolet sed,” the LAPD’s statement continued. “Police also seized a firearm believed to have been involved in the crime. The investigation is ongoing.”
Guss has a history of encounters with law enforcement. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Information Center, he was previously arrested on July 10, 2023, stemming from the LAPD’s Newton station, and on May 16, 2022, from the sheriff’s Palmdale station.
The LAPD is urging anyone with information about the South Los Angeles shooting to come forward. Individuals can contact the LAPD’s Southeast Division at 213-972-7828 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
The arrest of Malcolm Guss Jr. marks a significant development in the case, bringing some relief to the community and the injured officers. The incident underscores the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the importance of community cooperation in ensuring public safety.