TOPANGA CANYON—On Tuesday, December 31, the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division reported it is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) in Topanga Division. The LAPD reported that on December 29, 2024, at around 10:15 p.m., Topanga Division uniformed officers responded to a radio call of a vandalism suspect in a hotel, located on the 21700 block of Ventura Boulevard.
While the officers were enroute, the person reporting advised Communications Division the suspect was now holding a gun. Upon arrival, officers encountered the suspect walking in the driveway towards the street. The suspect produced two firearms and fired at officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS).
The suspect retreated towards a parked vehicle, but quickly returned with one firearm and fired again at officers, as officers continued to return fire. The suspect fled back into the hotel and officers immediately established a perimeter around the building and requested the assistance of Metropolitan Division Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). After the suspect refused to surrender, SWAT officers, along with a Tactical Emergency Medical Support Unit (TEMS) from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), entered the hotel and located the suspect at the bottom of a stairwell with sustained gunshot wounds.
Personnel from the TEMS unit assessed and determined the suspect, Benjamin Prince Bradley, 47, was dead. There were no reports of any other injuries during the incident.
An AEA Harpoon double barrel shot air pistol, loaded with an air cartridge in each barrel, was located at the scene, along with an AEA model B&WT9 air rifle, which was loaded with seven rounds. Both weapons could fire metallic rounds of ammunition. The weapons were recovered and booked as evidence. The FID responded to the scene and are investigating the incident.
By Trevor