Angel Reinosa, a rookie Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy, is now accused of making up the claim that he was shot by a sniper he said was firing from a perch in a four-story building.
Shortly after the shooting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department wrote, “Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy shot in shoulder and wounded at Lancaster station; shooter at large. #LASD SEB Special Weapons Team just landed on scene and searching for shooter.” Now, though, authorities say they think Reinosa made it up.
“Angel Reinosa admitted that he was not shot at from the apartment complex area as he previously claimed,” Capt. Kent Wegener said during a news conference on the evening of August 24, 2019.
Earlier, before that stunning development, the Sheriff’s Department wrote, “#LASD Deputy struck by gunfire at @LANLASD Station. Active scene, please stay away from area.” The shooting broke out at 2:48 p.m. at the station at 501 West Lancaster Boulevard.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Police Now Say Reinosa Cut Holes in His Uniform Shirt
Deputy Angel Reinosa made it up. Official called his story “completely fabricated,” says he cut two holes in his shirt, but detectives asked to see his wounds today and they saw no visible injury.
In the news conference, Wegener said that Reinosa “also told investigators that he had caused the holes in his uniform shirt by cutting it with a knife.”
The deputy was on duty at the time. He “reported being shot at and hit by gunfire and detailed that two shots came from an upper floor sniper…” Wegener said. “Reinosa was rescued by responding deputies and rushed to the hospital.”
Wegener described how a large perimeter was established by tactical teams. Lancaster residents were displaced and traffic was shut down. No gunman was located that night. Surveillance video was reviewed and witnesses were interviewed, including Angel Reinosa.
Investigators saw two holes in his uniform shirt which he represented to coincide with his injuries. Forensic analysis was completed and it all unraveled when a follow up interview was scheduled on August 24, Wegener said.
“Detectives saw no visible injury to Reinosa’s shoulder,” said Wegener in the press conference. “He admitted he was not shot at from the apartment complex area as he previously claimed. He also told investigators that he had caused the holes in his uniform shirt by cutting it with a knife.”
Previously, it had been claimed that the bullet flew from an apartment building designed for the mentally ill. It’s called Arbor Fields building and has 99 units.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy shot in shoulder and wounded at Lancaster station; shooter at large. #LASD SEB Special Weapons Team just landed on scene and searching for shooter.
“A sniper shot one of our deputies as he was leaving the station,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, in a press conference before Reinosa stood accused.
“The bullet came from a four-story apartment that caters to, is designed for, allows mentally ill people to live there, that’s all that lives there. Mentally ill people,” it was previously claimed.
At the time, the mayor characterized the shooting as random.
2. The Deputy Is a Trainee Who Was Earlier Described as Being in ‘Good Spirits’
A possible sniper is on the run after wounding a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in Southern California t.co/mof4qU6RPM
Angel Reinosa was on training status and was a relatively new deputy who is only 21-years-old, said Wegener.
“The deputy has indicated that he fabricated the whole thing. So there was no crime. There were no shots fired,” Wegener said.
Reinosa was treated for what authorities termed a grazing gunshot wound at the time because that’s what he reported. “The wound did not penetrate his skin. It was a contusion, a bruise,” said Wegener, who added, “We cleared the whole apartment complex. We thought we had an armed sniper…When a police officer has been shot, shot at, we respond in force. …hundreds of deputy sheriffs, not to mention that the citizens of Lancaster were incredibly inconvenienced.”
Wegener said he’d heard of such a situation in his career a “handful of times.”
“It’s extremely disappointing. We expect our deputy sheriffs to be held to a higher standard,” said assistant sheriff Robin Limon.
Initially, authorities attributed the fact that Reinosa was not more seriously injured to the fact he was wearing a vest.
Just after 9 p.m. on August 21, 2019, the Sheriff’s Department wrote, “Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, our wounded deputy @LANLASD is in stable condition & good spirits. The scene is still active, more information will be provided once available.”
The LAPD tweeted, “We are monitoring the ongoing incident of an LA County Sheriff’s deputy being shot and wounded at their Lancaster station. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deputy for a speedy recovery, and the men and women throughout this country committed to protecting their communities.” All of that came before the latest news, though.
3. The Motive for the Alleged Hoax Is Not Clear
Mayor of Lancaster says an @LASDHQ #deputy was shot by a #SNIPER.
The rookie deputy was walking in the sheriff’s station parking lot when he was shot by someone in a nearby mental health facility. That building overlooks the sheriff’s station parking lot t.co/FFzG6VcaUX
Why would a sheriff’s deputy allegedly fabricate a sniper attack, leading to great expenditure of law enforcement resources? That’s unknown, authorities say. “Reinosa failed to provide information regarding his motivation for this act,” according to Wegener.
Wegener said Reinosa’s statement to authorities was mostly “self serving” and “didn’t make a whole lot of sense. He didn’t get into detail as to why he cut the holes or fabricated the story. No motivation.”
False report of an emergency is a possible charge, although it’s up to the District Attorney.
Other members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department took to social media to condemn the attack before the Reinosa development.
“The contemptible assault on Deputy Reinosa & @LANLASD Deps. wasn’t only an attack on #LASD, it was an attack on the sensible mechanisms of our safety, & an affront to all @CountyofLA residents. May those who commendably responded be steadfast in locating & arresting the shooter,” wrote Sergeant Benjamin Grubb on Twitter. He’s with the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
A woman who tweets as Deputy Trina with the LASD wrote on Twitter, “Such a big sigh of relief our partner @LANLASD Deputy is doing so well after being shot today. Every day is a scary day for all #LEO. Thank you for your prayers and support. We appreciate you.”
4. Authorities Now Say The Sniper Shooting Was ‘Completely Fabricated’
Manhunt on for sniper who shot sheriff’s deputy in shoulder at Lancaster station | t.co/qrSisSeFDB
The sheriff’s official, in the August 24 news conference, was blunt, saying of Angel Reinosa’s report: “There was no sniper, no shots fired and no gunshot injury sustained to his shoulder.” He called the sniper report “completely fabricated.”
The investigation is ongoing and when concluded it will be presented to the district attorney’s office, authorities said. Assistant Sheriff Robin Limon, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said the sheriff had rushed to the Lancaster Sheriff’s Department and “committed full department resources.”
“We are incredibly disappointed to have to report to you that the reported sniper assault was fabricated by our deputy… a criminal investigation has been launched. We intend on relieving Angel Reinosa of his duties,” Limon said in the press conference.
The mayor of Lancaster provided more details of the supposed shooting.
“One of our newest deputies is gunned down as he gets into his car,” he said earlier on. “It shakes the core of everything we have.”
There was a school in the supposed shooter’s range. The school was locked down.
He added: “I can’t say enough good things about how well the Sheriff’s Department responded and how quicklu they responded. They averted something that could have been much worse.”
5. The Lack of Injuries or Bullets Made Authorities Suspicious
Los Angeles Times: Possible sniper opens fire at Lancaster sheriff’s station, wounding one deputy.
t.co/AQXzI9ZH0u
via @GoogleNews
NBC Los Angeles reported that the lack of injuries to Reinosa, despite the uniform shirt holes, made authorities suspicious of the claim.
Wegener said “there were several things that were curious… there was no ballistic evidence in the parking lot at all. There were no bullets recovered from the point of impact. There were no cars struck by gunfire.” He said witnesses didn’t hear anything. “There were many things that didn’t add up. However, every case is unique.”
“We have to substantiate…rather than just going with a gut feeling,” said Wegener.
A pellet gun later recovered was ruled out as having any significance.
According to CNN, reporting in the earlier stages, the deputy was wearing a bullet proof vest that provided him with some protection. Although he was hit in the chest, the bullet was deflected by the vest into his shoulder, according to the cable news network.
CNN reported that the building is government subsidized.
“It’s a difficult tactical situation,” Parris said before Reinosa stood accused. “There is no control over who goes in or out of the building and there are still people inside.”