Gun OIS 2-10-16A Bellflower man was booked on felony firearm possession and residential burglary charges after an officer-involved shooting in Long Beach Wednesday afternoon, which began when police attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle in which he was a passenger, authorities said.

Cory Bryce, 28, was booked at Long Beach City Jail for felon in possession of a firearm, prohibited possessor in possession of a firearm and residential burglary, according to a release from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).

He is being held without bail as a result of violating the terms and conditions of his Post-Release Community Supervision, officials stated. Bryce was released from jail on September 23, 2015 according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s inmate database.

Officials said the officer-involved shooting happened at 3:57PM on Wednesday, February 10, after West Division officers observed a vehicle making a traffic violation on the 2100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

Before police had a chance to conduct the traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle quickly stopped, and Bryce—the passenger—immediately exited the vehicle with a handgun in his hand, then beginning to run, officials alleged.

An officer then shot at Bryce when he stopped running and turned toward police with the gun in his hand, the release stated. No one was hit.

“The suspect then ran from officers still armed with the handgun and proceeded to hop over multiple fences in his attempt to flee arrest,” according to authorities. “The officer’s observations of the suspect being armed with a handgun were confirmed by an independent witness.”

Assisting units quickly established a perimeter where Bryce was last seen and a SWAT team was activated to conduct the search, officials said.

Just before 5:00PM officers assisting on the call noticed a fight on the porch of a home on the 1000 block of East 21st Street and quickly realized the resident was in a physical struggle with the possible suspect, the release stated.

The officers then arrested the suspect, who was positively identified shortly after.

Officials said Bryce allegedly entered the residence through a side door and was immediately confronted by the residents who were in fear for their safety. A physical struggle ensued to get the suspect out, which is what officers observed before taking Bryce into custody.

Detectives later found the suspect’s gun in the area where he was last seen running.

Officers were also able to find the driver involved in the incident who fled the scene. Both the driver and vehicle were found on the 400 block of North Willow Avenue in Compton, and the car was impounded. The driver was interviewed by detectives and released.

In response to increased shooting incidents, the department has been strategically deploying resources to combat violent crime in some West Division neighborhoods, according to LBPD officials.

Thanks to these focused efforts and those by area beat officers, 48 guns have been taken off the street so far this year, the release stated. Officials said this is a 6.7 percent increase compared to the same time period 2015.

The recovered guns do not include those that were taken for safekeeping, but do include those used in some type of criminal activity. Of the 48 guns recovered, 35.4 percent were taken off West Division streets and 23 percent of those were found during evening hours.

The Long Beach Homicide Detail investigates all officer involved shootings. This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Homicide Detectives at 562.570.7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1.800.222.TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting
http://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Above, left photo courtesy of LBPD.

{FG_GEOMAP [33.7952963,-118.18066369999997] FG_GEOMAP}

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.