Pasadena Officer Shot Near Metro Station
A Pasadena police officer was shot near the Metro Gold Line station. The officer's condition is unknown, and authorities are investigating whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.
The incident began around 7:30 p.m. Monday when officers responded to a 911 call about a man shot in the shoulder at the Sierra Madre Villa A Line station. After police located the initial victim, they spotted a man matching the suspect's description, who then fled on foot. A foot chase of about three blocks ended in an exchange of gunfire near Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and Electronic Drive. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and a Pasadena police officer was wounded. The initial shooting victim was transported to a hospital in stable condition. The wounded officer has been identified as Bryan Vasquez, a five-year veteran of the department. He underwent surgery at Huntington Hospital and was reported to be conscious and talking beforehand; he is now in stable but guarded condition. The deceased suspect was identified by the L.A. County Medical Examiner as 32-year-old Malcom Buchanan. Family members told reporters that Buchanan may have been off his medication for bipolar disorder. A multi-agency investigation into the officer's use of deadly force is now underway, a standard procedure for such incidents in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will lead the criminal investigation into the shooting, while the District Attorney's office will conduct its own independent review to determine if the use of force was legally justified.
