LAPD Shoot Crazed Women with a Pellet Gun

The officers involved in the below incident have been identified as Police Officer II Miguel Salazar, Serial No. 39782, Police Officer II Jacqueline McBride, Serial No. 44671 and Police Officer I Preston Moseby, Serial No. 44995, all three officers are assigned to Rampart Division.

*The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed*

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in Rampart Division.

On February 22, 2023, around 7:55 p.m., Rampart Division uniformed patrol officers responded to a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon Suspect There Now,” in the area of Silver Lake Boulevard and Temple Street. The initial comments of the call indicated that a female Hispanic wearing a trench coat pointed a “revolver” at a passerby. Officers responded to the area where they observed a female, later identified as Mariela Cardenas, matching the description of the radio call, armed with what appeared to be a firearm. The officers immediately exited their vehicle and gave verbal commands to Cardenas.

Cardenas ignored the officers’ commands and pointed the weapon in the officers’ direction, resulting in an OIS. Cardenas was struck by gunfire and taken into custody. The Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and transported Cardenas to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. No officers were injured during this incident.

The investigation revealed that Cardenas’ weapon was a replica handgun capable of firing metal pellets.

The replica handgun opened displaying the CO2 cartridge.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures