LAPD officer responding to backup call at chaotic Halloween party hits, kills pedestrian

Pedestrian Struck and Killed by LAPD Cruiser Responding to Sherman Oaks Party Backup Call

An emergency backup call responding to a rowdy Halloween house party in Sherman Oaks ended in tragedy late Saturday night when a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser struck and killed a 32-year-old pedestrian in neighboring Valley Glen, abc7.com reported. The fatal collision occurred just after 10:30 p.m. as the officer traveled with lights and sirens activated along Woodman Avenue, roughly a mile away from the initial disturbance on Weddington Street.

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Police dispatchers had received a “shots fired” call reporting a chaotic crowd of an estimated 300 people gathered at the house party. CBS News reported that officers were initially dispatched to reports of a fight among a large group before the pursuit of order intersected with a civilian fatality on the wet roadways left behind by a Southern California rainstorm.

The Scene on Woodman Avenue

The impact took place on Woodman Avenue between Bessemer and Erwin streets. The victim, whose identity has not yet been publicly released by authorities, was pronounced dead at the scene. While family members have told CBS LA that the mother leaves behind two young daughters, investigators have not clarified whether she was walking in the street or within a crosswalk when the cruiser struck her.

LAPD officer responding to backup call at chaotic Halloween party hits, kills pedestrian — Photo: cbsnews.com

A local resident who heard the collision described the immediate aftermath to reporters. “What I heard was a loud thud; it caught my attention because it wasn’t loud enough to be a gunshot, but it didn’t sound like a car accident,” the witness told CBS News. “I see one cop car in the middle of the street, sideways, and then I see a cop a couple feet from the curb, looking into the street… You could see the body in the middle of the street on the floor.”

Clearing the Sherman Oaks Gathering

While the fatal investigation unfolded on Woodman Avenue, additional police units arrived at the Weddington Street location to address the large Halloween gathering. The crowd of approximately 300 people was eventually cleared out without any reported injuries. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any firearms were recovered at the party house.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the vehicle collision remains ongoing. Law enforcement officials have not released additional details regarding the officer’s speed or the precise timeline leading up to the impact.