Medical Examiner Names Teen Who Shot Herself to Death with Deputy’s Gun

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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LOS ANGELES - The 17-year-old girl who killed herself after reportedly wrestling away a deputy’s gun was named Tuesday.

Johanna Gonzalez died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Gonzalez knocked on the lobby doors to the Sheriff’s Industry Station, 150 N. Hudson Ave., around 7:40 p.m. Sunday, March 24. Deputies greeted her at the doors.

“The juvenile lunged into the lobby and reached for the deputy’s holstered firearm and took possession of it. A struggle ensued between the deputies and juvenile who was armed with the deputy’s firearm. During the struggle, the juvenile suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

Gonzalez died at the scene.

Deputies were called to the home of Gonzalez’s foster parent just before 7:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Clintwood Avenue on a family disturbance that same night.

“The juvenile’s foster parent reported that the juvenile was suffering from an apparent mental health crisis. Deputies responded to the scene; however, the juvenile had already left on foot before the deputies arrived,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

The girl traveled one mile to the Industry Station.

No one else was hurt during the shooting.