12:45pm | Yesterday evening, December 8, at 11:45pm, the Long Beach Police Department responded to the 100 block of West Pacific Coast Highway regarding a 9-1-1 report of an armed robbery.
The preliminary investigation revealed that officers arrived on scene, contacted the victim, and observed a possible suspect fleeing the area. Officers located the suspect in the 1900 block of Pacific Avenue and attempted to stop him; however, he refused and resisted officers. During the struggle to take the suspect into custody, the suspect struck one of the officer’s handguns, causing the gun to fire. The accidental shooting resulted in that officer being shot in the leg by his own gun.
The suspect, a parolee who was not in possession of a weapon, was subsequently taken into custody without injury. The injured officer was transported to a local hospital and was treated and released a short time later. No other officers were injured during the incident.
The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Ajay Steward of Long Beach. He was subsequently booked for robbery, battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and on four outstanding warrants. He is being held without bail at the Long Beach City Jail. As a result of the robbery investigation, a second suspect was also taken into custody out at the scene. She has been identified as 26-year-old Tarnarka Taylor of Los Angeles. She was booked for robbery and for an outstanding warrant. She is being held on $51,663 bail and is also being held at the Long Beach City Jail.
The Long Beach Police Homicide Detail investigates all officer-involved shootings. Anyone who may any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Hugo Cortes and Peter Lackovic at (562) 570-7244.