On May 4, 2021 at 4:39 pm, Ontario Police Officers were in the City of Los Angeles to locate and arrest a known homicide suspect, Antonio Valdez. Valdez, a 34-year-old male Ontario resident, had shot and killed his roommate on May 1, 2021. An arrest warrant had been issued for Valdez related to this murder.
While on surveillance, officers identified Valdez as he entered a vehicle. As Valdez drove away, a marked Ontario Police unit attempted to stop Valdez’s vehicle. Valdez refused to stop and led officers on a short pursuit. Valdez crashed into a parked vehicle in the 100 block of East 66th St. in Los Angeles. Valdez then exited his vehicle holding an assault rifle and began to point it at an Ontario Police Officer. An officer involved shooting occurred in which one Ontario Police Officer fired his handgun.
Valdez fled the scene but was subsequently taken into custody, with the assistance of Los Angeles Police Department Newton Division personnel. At the time of his arrest Valdez was in possession of an assault rifle, a handgun, ammunition, and body armor.
Neither the Officer nor Valdez were injured during the shooting. Due to the traffic collision, Valdez was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. He was treated, released, and booked at West Valley Detention Center on the charge of murder.
The Officer who fired his weapon has 5 years of experience with the Ontario Police Department. He has been placed on three days of paid administrative leave, which is standard department practice.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Ontario Police Department at (909) 986-6711 or Detective Patrick Woolweaver at (909) 408-1705. Information can be reported anonymously by calling WE-TIP at 800-78-CRIME or on-line at www.wetip.com.
