A man killed the mother of his child with a shotgun during a custody exchange at the Hawthorne Police Department on Sunday afternoon, as Hawthorne police continued investigating another shooting earlier in the day that left both a police officer and a suspect wounded, officials said.
The attacker fled following the 6 p.m. shooting in front of the police station, 12501 Hawthorne Boulevard, Hawthorne police Lt. Jim Royer told KTLA. But he was apprehended by police about three hours later, officials said.
A woman and her mother had gone to the police station to exchange custody of a 17-month-old child with the toddler’s father, the lieutenant said. During the exchange, the man and woman became involved in an argument.
“He produced a shotgun. He shot and killed her in front of the station,” Royer said.
The suspect got into his car and sped off following the shooting, he said. The child was unhurt and in the custody of police.
An officer in the police station who heard the gunfire and rushed to check it out fired shots at the suspect, but he managed to get away, according to Royer.
The suspect’s car was found abandoned at Hawthorne Boulevard and 133rd Street, just over half a mile south of the police station, officials added. Bullet holes could be seen in the windshield. But the shooter remained at large for about three hours, before police said he had been taken into custody.
The alleged killer was found in the 4400 block of 134th Street, near where his car was found, officials said.
The afternoon shooting took place as the investigation was still underway into a gunfight between a Hawthorne police officer and a suspect in neighboring Manhattan Beach on Sunday morning that left both wounded.
Female killed in front of the HPD station. Suspect vehicle located abandoned in the area of 133/Hawthorne. We are actively searching for the suspect. This is an officer involved shooting incident.
— Hawthorne Police (@HawthornePD) April 8, 2019
Update: 187suspect is now in custody ; Southbound Hawthorne Blvd will remain closed, while equip is being removed. Thanks to the many surrounding agencies for their help.
— Hawthorne Police (@HawthornePD) April 8, 2019