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Crime

AK-47 Attacker Held

9:06 AM PDT on August 15, 2006

The gunman who emptied a banana clip worth of ammo into an LAPD cruiser, seriously wounding a cop, is being held on $2m bail and being charged with attempted murder of a police officer. AP reports:

A 31-year-old man was being held Sunday on $2 million bail after authorities said he sprayed a police car with bullets during a traffic stop, wounding an officer before being shot himself. Jose Perez of Los Angeles was booked for investigation of attempted murder after being treated and released for a leg wound, Officer Mike Lopez said. The shooting occurred about 11 p.m. Saturday after two police officers pulled over a stolen car in Montecito Heights near Lincoln High School, authorities said.

Officer James Tuck was hit twice in the stomach, and a third bullet nearly severed his hand. Although Tuck, 26, was wearing a bulletproof vest, it offered little protection from the high-powered weapon at close range, police said. Tuck's partner, Officer John Porras, was able to return fire and hit Perez in the leg, police said. Porras was struck in the face by broken glass. After being shot, Perez dropped the rifle and tried to crawl away, police said. He was captured moments later on the porch of a nearby house.

The LA Times has the story of partners Tuck and Porras-- one a rookie, one an 18-year veteran of some of the toughest beats in the city.

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