Police Shoot 2 in Torrance in Search for Ex-LAPD Cop

Also read: 3 Police Shot; Ex-Cop Tied to Irvine Slayings Sought

Los Angeles and Torrance police were involved in two shootings in Torrance Thursday when officers came across vehicles similar to the one sought by authorities in the hunt for a former LAPD officer suspected of killing three people.

However, neither shooting involved Christopher Dorner, 33, who remains at large, according to police.

"Tragically, we believe this was a case of mistaken identity by the officers," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.

The first shooting occurred about 5:20 a.m. in the 19500 block of Redbeam Avenue, where Los Angeles police detectives wounded two people who were in a vehicle matching the description of the one being used by Dorner. Beck said the vehicle was being driven "in the area of one of our primary protection details, one of the people that was under the most serious level of threat."

"The LAPD officers assigned observed a vehicle matching the suspect's vehicle driving down the street with the lights turned out," Beck said.

The chief said officers wound up opening fire on the vehicle. Both people inside the vehicle were hospitalized, and one victim was treated for a minor gunshot wound, while the second was being treated for two gunshot wounds, Beck said.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the victims were women who were delivering newspapers, and one was shot in the back and one in a hand.

The second shooting occurred about 5:45 a.m. at Flagler Lane and Beryl Street, The Times reported. No one was injured in that incident.

-City News Service