Missing Assault Rifle Prompts Investigation by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
A search is underway for a Colt M4 assault rifle that went missing from the trunk of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department squad car in South Los Angeles on Saturday night, raising serious questions about security protocols. The department has launched an internal investigation and is asking the public for assistance in locating the weapon.
The incident came to light after deputies discovered the rifle was missing sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Department. The weapon, stored in a “black, hard-shelled storage case,” was accompanied by five magazines, each containing 30 rounds of ammunition.
Route of Travel Identified in Search Effort
Authorities have identified the approximate four-mile route traveled by the deputies in an effort to retrace their steps and potentially recover the missing firearm. The deputies were traveling north on Normandie Avenue near the department’s South L.A. Station, then turned west onto Imperial Highway, north on Hawthorne Boulevard, and finally west on 104th Street to Inglewood Avenue.
“Upon realizing the rifle was missing, personnel from the South Los Angeles Station immediately initiated a search of the station parking lot and retraced the deputies’ route of travel,” the Sheriff’s Department stated. Surveillance footage from businesses and residences along the route is currently being reviewed, and neighboring law enforcement agencies have been alerted to the situation.
Internal Review Underway
The Sheriff’s Department has initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine if established procedures were followed regarding the secure transport and storage of the assault rifle. The department aims to identify any potential lapses in protocol that may have contributed to the incident.
The union representing L.A. County sheriff’s deputies has not yet issued a comment regarding the matter.
Anyone with information regarding the missing rifle, or who may have captured relevant video footage along the deputies’ route, is urged to contact the Sheriff’s South L.A. station at (323) 820-6700. The recovery of the weapon and a thorough understanding of the circumstances surrounding its disappearance are of paramount importance to both the department and the community.
