Ambush attacks on police remain high, with 56 officers shot through July 2025
Ambush attacks on police remain high, with 56 officers shot through July 2025
A deadly ambush in Utah that killed two officers and wounded a deputy has highlighted a troubling and growing trend: law enforcement officers are increasingly being targeted in unprovoked surprise attacks, CBS News reported. The latest incident unfolded in Tremonton, where officers responding to a disturbance call were met with gunfire almost immediately. Two Tremonton-Garland Police officers were killed, and a Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office deputy and K-9 were wounded. According to Mayor Lyle Holmgren, the suspect intended to “cause harm to as many police officers and public servants as possible.” The attack is one of 45 ambush-style shootings of law enforcement reported nationwide so far in 2025, according to the Fraternal Order of Police. The organization reports that at least 56 officers have been shot in those attacks, more than 28% of the total number of officers shot in the line of duty this year. In 2020, ambushes accounted for just over 20%. The year-to-year totals show fluctuation but an overall elevated risk. According to FOP data, these figures represent the number of ambush-style incidents against law enforcement officers each year: 48 ambushes in 2020; 107 in 2021; 89 in 2022; 115 in 2023; 62 in 2024; and 45 by July of 2025.
Lil Nas X pleads not guilty to battery against police officer following bizarre Studio City arrest
Rapper Lil Nas X pleaded not guilty in court on Monday following his arrest last week after a bizarre stroll along Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, where he was seen walking in underwear and cowboy boots. He was later spotted naked and wandering in the street. The 26-year-old singer and rapper from Atlanta, whose real name is Montero Hill, appeared in a Van Nuys courtroom on three felony counts of battery with injury against a police officer and a single count of resisting an executive officer. His bail was set at $75,000. As a condition to being released on bail, Hill must attend four Narcotics Anonymous meetings per week or attend outpatient treatment. The Grammy-winning artist was arrested Thursday after he was seen walking nearly nude down the street in a video recorded by a passing driver. He was also hospitalized for a possible overdose. The footage was provided to the entertainment website TMZ.
Suspect Barricades Self in Tarzana Residence After Allegedly Ramming into Police Cruiser
A suspect wanted for allegedly ramming a police car with his vehicle was barricaded in a residence in Tarzana Tuesday after a pursuit that began in Hollywood, authorities said. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood station began pursuing the suspect at approximately 4 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Western Avenue after he rammed his SUV into one of their patrol cars, LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes told City News Service. The pursuit proceeded onto the Hollywood (101) Freeway and into the San Fernando Valley in the Tarzana area. The suspect exited the freeway and fled on foot to the 5700 block of Calvin Avenue, between Hatteras Street and the freeway, police said. He ran inside a residence and has remained inside since, Cervantes said. Police established a perimeter around the residence.
Man charged with Valley Village apartment killing pleads not guilty to 2 murder charges
The 27-year-old man accused of killing a Valley Village man who was found dead inside his apartment earlier this year pleaded not guilty to his murder and to the murder of another person in 2022. Erick Escamilla is charged with two counts each of murder and first-degree residential burglary stemming from the April 23 stabbing of Menashe Hidra at his Valley Village apartment and for the Aug. 2, 2022, killing of Ok Ja Kim at her Woodland Hills home. The killing of Hidra sparked fear in the Valley Village neighborhood as police conducted a week-long manhunt for a suspect after the 53-year-old was found dead inside his Riverside Drive apartment complex. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the suspect got into Hidra's apartment by first breaking into the neighboring vacant unit through a rooftop skylight, then climbing onto the victim's balcony. Los Angeles County prosecutors said that Escamilla allegedly stabbed and killed Hidra with a screwdriver during the break-in. Escamilla was located at a local hospital, where he was receiving treatment, and was taken into custody on May 9 by FBI and LAPD investigators.
Elderly man stabbed to death; suspect taken into custody with self-inflicted wounds after standoff
An elderly man was stabbed to death at a residence in South L.A. and the suspect was arrested with multiple self-inflicted wounds after a prolonged standoff over the weekend. A press release sent out by LAPD on Monday morning states that officers with the Southwest Division were dispatched to the 2300 block of West 23rd Street after a radio call regarding an “assault with a deadly weapon ambulance shooting” around 1:10 p.m. Saturday. “The comments of the call stated that the victim, a 90-year-old male, was down in front of the house,” the press release says. Officers arrived at the residence and observed the elderly victim on the ground, but as they approached him, a man “present[ed] himself from inside the residence” and opened fire at authorities. The man, later identified as Andrew Smith, then retreated out of sight into the residence. Due to the nature of the incident, officers established a perimeter and requested assistance from the SWAT team.
Man charged with attempted murder in AR 15 and stabbing attack at Canoga Park mall
A 29-year-old man accused of firing rounds from a high-powered rifle before stabbing a woman at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park was charged Monday with attempted murder and other crimes. Shayne Suffern also was charged with kidnapping and possession of an assault weapon in the terrifying attack outside a Cheesecake Factory at the west San Fernando Valley mall. Suffern was carrying an AR-15 rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition and 13 fully loaded 40-round magazines, according to investigators. No one was struck by gunfire. A woman was stabbed in what investigators said appeared to be a random attack. Suffern was expected to be arraigned Monday in Van Nuys. The LAPD said Suffern had a prior case involving the negligent discharge of a firearm in public. According to LA Superior Court records, he faced charges in February 2023 of willful discharge of a firearm and possession of an assault weapon. In October 2024 he was sentenced to two years of mental health diversion, with a condition prohibiting him from owning or possessing any dangerous or deadly weapons. He previously had a hearing for this case scheduled in January 2026. According to police, the AR 15-style rifle was not California compliant and had high-capacity magazines that were also not legal in California. The woman who was stabbed ran into a Cheesecake Factory carrying a child and asking for help. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Swing for the Officer Needs Help Fund!
Join us for the 43rd Annual Chief Daryl F. Gates Golf Tournament on October 6, 2025 at the beautiful Porter Valley Country Club. This is your chance to tee off for a cause. Every swing helps support the Officer Needs Help Fund. Enjoy a day of friendly competition, scenic fairways, and great company while aiming for exciting prizes and bragging rights. Whether you’re a scratch golfer or just out for the fun, you’ll be part of something truly meaningful. Sponsorship opportunities are available, giving you a chance to showcase your support for our law enforcement family. Don’t miss your shot! Register today and help us drive change, one hole at a time!
LAPD investigating Raja Jackson wrestling incident
A professional wrestler has been assaulted in the ring by Raja Jackson, the son of former UFC champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, during a Kick livestreamed match. The unscripted attack was widely viewed online and is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. The incident happened on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy located in the Sun Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles. Raja Jackson climbed into the ring and body-slammed a professional wrestler known as Syko Stu (real name Stuart Smith), the viral video shows. After the body-slam, Jackson proceeded to beat the apparently unconscious wrestler, throwing at least 20 punches at his head. Other wrestlers intervened and separated Jackson from Smith. Jackson left the scene before police arrived. The academy stated that Jackson’s assault on Smith was not a part of the match's planned script.
Massachusetts trooper leaves hospital after nearly 2 months following hit-and-run
A Massachusetts State Police trooper injured in a hit-and-run motorcycle crash was able to leave the hospital after nearly two months. Lt. Donald Bossi was hit by a stolen motorcycle outside the State Police Barracks on Revere Beach Boulevard shortly before 5 p.m. on June 23 , Massachusetts State Police said. The crash “propelled” the lieutenant 45 feet. Within a day of being at the hospital, officials say he was in stable condition at Massachusetts General Hospital, according to State Police . Bossi is the station commander of the Revere Barracks. On Tuesday, Bossi was moved to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge. Akram El Moukhtari , 18, of Revere , is facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in personal injury and receiving a stolen vehicle in connection with the crash, State Police said. He fled the scene on foot, but was arrested a few hours later.
Public Safety News
Firefighters battle Sherman Oaks brush fire
Los Angeles Fire Department crews are battling a 1.5-acre brush fire in Sherman Oaks. The blaze was reported close to 2 p.m., near the 405 Freeway and the Sepulveda Basin. The department reported that the blaze was burning toward Burbank Boulevard at a moderate rate of speed driven by light winds. "Dozer lines from previous burns are expected to help keep this fire in check," LAFD said in a statement. No injuries have been reported at this time.
COVID rising fast in California, fueled by new ‘Stratus’ variant tied to Omicron
COVID-19 is once again climbing to troubling levels in California — a worrying trend as health officials attempt to navigate a vaccine landscape thrown into uncertainty by delays and decisions from the Trump administration. Public health departments in Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties have reported jumps in the coronavirus concentrations detected in wastewater in recent weeks. L.A. County also has reported a small increase in patients hospitalized with COVID. “There is a lot of COVID out there,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco. “COVID is coming a little bit later than last year.” The rate at which COVID lab tests came back positive in L.A. County is 12.6% for the week that ended Aug. 16, up from 7.6% a month earlier. In Orange County, it’s 14.4%, up from 8.1%. “We are seeing outpatient cases increase,” said Dr. Elizabeth E. Hudson, the regional physician chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “With back-to-school season in full swing ... we are expecting to see an uptick in COVID in children over the next few weeks and this is already being seen in some parts of the country.”
