Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy facing criminal charges after he faked being shot by a sniper, authorities say
- Local law enforcement left reeling after they launched a search for gunman who they believed had shot the deputy, only to find out the story had been fabricated
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy falsely claimed last week he was shot by a sniper at the Lancaster sheriff’s station. He will now be the subject of a criminal investigation, officials said late Saturday.
The dramatic twist in the case came after days of fruitless searches for a gunman who authorities believed had shot the deputy. The incident prompted the manhunt and massive police response, with much of the focus on an apartment building next to the station.
“The reported sniper assault was fabricated by our deputy,” Assistant Sheriff Robin Limon said at an unusual 11pm news conference at the department’s downtown Los Angeles headquarters.
On Sunday morning, a message was posted on the Facebook page of the Lancaster sheriff’s station about the admission by Deputy Angel Reinosa:
“Angry. Embarrassed. Furious. Unbelievable. Ashamed. These are some of the words circulating our station’s hallways since last night as our deputies try to wrap their minds around last night’s press conference surrounding the incident that occurred in our parking lot on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.”
Reinosa, 21, claimed he was struck in the chest about 2.50pm Wednesday as he walked to his car in the employee parking lot at the Lancaster station, authorities said. At the time, investigators believed Reinosa’s bulletproof vest had saved his life but that a bullet had grazed his shoulder.