Pasadena Officer Shot Near Metro
A Pasadena police officer was shot and wounded near a Metro Gold Line station on March 4th, with the suspect killed in the ensuing gunfight. The incident is currently under investigation and has raised public safety concerns in the area.
The wounded officer has been identified as Bryan Vasquez, a five-year veteran of the Pasadena Police Department; he is in stable condition after undergoing surgery. The suspect, who was killed at the scene, was identified by family members as 32-year-old Malcom Buchanan. The incident began around 7:30 p.m. with a 911 call about a man shot in the shoulder at the Metro A Line's Sierra Madre Villa station. After locating the initial victim, officers spotted a man matching the suspect's description nearby, which led to a foot pursuit of about three blocks. The chase culminated in an exchange of gunfire near the intersection of Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and Electronic Drive, adjacent to the station's parking structure. This is where Officer Vasquez was wounded and the suspect was pronounced dead. Due to the nature of the incident, a multi-agency investigation is now underway. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will conduct the criminal investigation into the officer-involved shooting, a standard procedure for the Pasadena Police Department since 2014. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office will also have a role in reviewing the use of deadly force. This shooting brings renewed attention to safety on the Metro system. While Metro reported a 6.7% decrease in violent crime on its bus and rail system in 2025 compared to the previous year, concerns about public safety persist. In 2024, there were 16 reported violent crimes on the LA Metro involving a deadly weapon.
