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Angel Ledesma

Age : 27

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 08/27/2023

Location : 18000 block of Malden Street

City : Northridge

County : Los Angeles

State : California

Agency : Los Angeles Police Department

Officer(s) :Eric Hernandez; Randy Portillo

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during pedestrian encounter outside Northridge apartment complex

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/27/2023, at approximately 11:10 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department Devonshire Division Officers Eric Hernandez and Randy Portillo were patrolling near Chase Street and Canby Avenue in Northridge when they encountered 24-year-old Angel Ledesma near the entrance to an apartment complex in the 18000 block of Malden Street. The officers had not been dispatched to a crime involving Ledesma; they initiated the encounter after observing him near the apartment entrance and believing he might be loitering.
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The officers stopped their patrol vehicle and questioned Ledesma about whether he lived at the apartment complex. Ledesma told them that he did. The officers nevertheless exited their patrol vehicle and continued the encounter, including attempting to check his identification. Body-camera footage later released by LAPD documented the encounter.
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According to LAPD, the officers believed Ledesma had a knife. Ledesma denied having one. As the encounter continued, Ledesma moved down the apartment entrance ramp and over a fence. LAPD alleged that Ledesma was holding an open folding knife with an approximately 2¾-inch blade.
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Police alleged that Ledesma then ran toward Hernandez and Portillo while holding the knife with its blade pointed toward them. The officers ordered him to drop it. Both Hernandez and Portillo fired their service weapons at Ledesma.
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Ledesma was struck multiple times and collapsed on the pavement. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded, but Ledesma was pronounced dead at the scene. LAPD reported recovering the open folding knife as evidence.
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LAPD's Force Investigation Division investigated the shooting. The investigation included body-worn camera recordings, additional video and photographic evidence, witness interviews, crime-scene evidence, forensic evidence and Ledesma's autopsy.
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LAPD subsequently released body-camera footage from the encounter. The footage showed the officers' initial contact with Ledesma, their questioning of him about whether he lived at the apartment complex, the escalation concerning the alleged knife and the fatal gunfire.
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The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Justice System Integrity Division completed its criminal review on 11/19/2024. Prosecutors concluded that Hernandez and Portillo acted lawfully in self-defense and defense of others and declined criminal prosecution. The DA's analysis was based on LAPD investigative reports, audio recordings, crime-scene diagrams, photographs, body-camera and other video evidence, witness statements and autopsy evidence.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Eric Hernandez was an LAPD Police Officer III, serial number 41767, assigned to Devonshire Division when he shot Ledesma. Randy Portillo was an LAPD Police Officer II, serial number 44511, also assigned to Devonshire Division. LAPD publicly identified both officers on 09/05/2023.
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Both Hernandez and Portillo fired during the fatal encounter. The Los Angeles County District Attorney subsequently reviewed the actions of both officers and concluded in November 2024 that their gunfire was legally justified.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/authorities-investigate-shooting-involving-lapd-in-northridge/3214007/
https://ktla.com/news/alleged-knife-wielding-man-fatally-shot-by-police-officers-in-northridge/
https://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/officer-involved-shooting-in-devonshire-division-nrf043-23ne/
https://www.foxla.com/news/lapd-releases-bodycam-footage-of-fatal-northridge-shooting
https://da.lacounty.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/JSID-OIS-11-19-24-Ledesma.pdf