Officer Bryan Vasquez, a five-year veteran of the Pasadena Police Department, was wounded during a confrontation near the Sierra Madre Villa Metro station in East Pasadena that ended with a suspected gunman fatally shot.
“We are thinking of him, praying for a swift and full recovery, and keeping his family and his colleagues at the Pasadena Police Department in our hearts as they navigate these difficult hours,” Gordo said.
“Moments like this remind us that behind every badge is a person, a neighbor, a parent, a son, who chose a life of service,” the mayor added. “We are grateful for the courage and steady commitment our officers show every single day to keep Pasadena safe. As a city, we stand together, in support of this officer, his loved ones, and every member of our Police Department who continues to serve with dedication and care.”
Police Chief Gene Harris said officers responded around 7:30 p.m. to a report of a man shot in the shoulder at the A Line station near Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and Electronic Drive. A second group of officers later spotted a man matching the suspect’s description nearby.
The suspect ran, and during a foot pursuit officers and the man exchanged gunfire, Harris said.
The suspect was killed at the scene. He has been identified as Malcolm Buchanan, 32, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
The injured officer was transported to Huntington Hospital, where he underwent surgery Monday night, city spokesperson Lisa Derderian said.
Early Tuesday, Derderian said the officer was out of critical surgery and listed in stable condition. Harris said the officer was conscious and talking as he was taken into the operating room.
The initial shooting victim — the man found with a shoulder wound at the Metro station — was also hospitalized and is in stable condition, according to police.
Officials have not disclosed what led to the original shooting at the station or whether the suspect and the initial victim knew each other. The pursuit covered roughly three blocks in streets surrounding the station’s parking structure and bus plaza, according to reports citing city officials.
Harris said police were not searching for additional suspects. The area around Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and Electronic Drive remained closed for hours as investigators processed the scene.
Investigators from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will review the police use of deadly force, Derderian said.
City leaders said the focus now remains on the wounded officer’s recovery and supporting the Pasadena Police Department in the aftermath of the shooting.
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