Fatal Shooting Victim and Suspect Killed By LAPD Identified

LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities on Tuesday identified a 37-year-old man killed by police in an extended shootout through a North Hollywood neighborhood on Monday.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is investigating the officer-involved shooting, the LAPD announced Tuesday.

Los Angeles Police Department officers shot and killed 37-year-old Sean Griffin Monday morning at a large parking structure by a school and childcare center near Victory Boulevard Monday morning. According to police, Griffin had just fired into an occupied vehicle, killing another man.

The shootout began at about 4:50 a.m. Monday when officers responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at Victory Boulevard and Bellingham Avenue, said LAPD Officer Charles Miller.

"Witnesses indicated that the suspect, later identified as 37-year- old Sean Griffin, had shot into an occupied vehicle, striking a victim," an LAPD statement said.

"As the officers entered the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Bellingham Avenue, they encountered Griffin armed with a firearm. Griffin pointed the firearm at the officers, and an Officer-Involved Shooting occurred," the LAPD statement said.

Police said Griffin fled on foot and other arriving officers encountered the suspect and fired at him again. According to the LAPD, he ran into a parking structure, pointed his firearm at police, and officers fired at him for a third time.

"Griffin was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. Officers rendered aid to Griffin until the arrival of Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene," police said.

It was unclear if Griffin fired shots at officers. The officers tried to assist the man who had been shot in the vehicle, but he died at the scene, the LAPD reported.

On Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the fatally wounded man in the vehicle as 32-year-old Joseph Tamburello, whose city of residence was not known.

Information was not available on the relationship between Griffin and Tamburello, if any.

"A loaded firearm with one round in the chamber and two rounds in the magazine was located next to Griffin, and additional live rounds were recovered from Griffin's person," the LAPD statement said. "The firearm was recovered and booked as evidence. No officers were injured as a result of this incident."

City News Service contributed to this report.