Gunman who shot deputy still on the loose, officials say

LOS ANGELES — A sniper who authorities say wounded a deputy in the parking lot of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lancaster station has not been found, authorities said Thursday.

Sheriff’s officials spent hours overnight searching a nearby four-story apartment building, where they expected to find the gunman who fired at Deputy Angel Reinosa, who was struck about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday while walking to his car.

The shooting drew a massive police presence, with a SWAT team and armored vehicles responding to the area. Deputies blocked off the apartment building and believed the shooter was trapped inside. However, when officials concluded their search of the structure about 4 a.m., they did not find a suspect, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Reinosa, 21, suffered a “graze wound” to his shoulder in the attack and was taken to a hospital. He since has been released and is expected to recover, officials said.

“The wound was minor, ... and he’s doing well, in high spirits,” Sheriff’s Capt. Todd Weber said late Wednesday.

The Sheriff’s Department said the gunfire came from a considerable distance. It was unclear how many shots were fired, but a source said the shooter fired a high-velocity rifle round that hit Reinosa.

The deputy made a radio call from the helipad in the station’s parking lot about 2:53 p.m. and said two shots had been fired north of the helipad from the nearby apartment building, according to preliminary information provided by authorities.