Two dead after gunfire between police and gunman in North Hollywood

Two dead after shots fired between LAPD officers and a gunman in North Hollywood

LAPD cruisers parked on a North Hollywood street at night

By Karen GarciaStaff Writer

Published Sept. 16, 2024 Updated Sept. 17, 2024 1:21 PM PT

A shooting Monday morning between an armed man and police in North Hollywood ended with two people dead, including the gunman, authorities said.

At 4:50 a.m. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 12000 block of Victory Boulevard.

Witnesses indicated that 37-year-old Sean Griffin had shot a man inside a vehicle, according to police.

When officers arrived at the scene near Victory Boulevard and Bellingham Avenue they encountered Griffin with a firearm, the LAPD said on X. Griffin pointed his gun at officers and they exchanged fire.

Griffin fled the area as additional officers began to arrive and ran north on Bellingham Avenue, toward a parking structure behind a gym. Officers then established a perimeter around the area.

Griffin came out of the west side of the parking structure on St. Claire Avenue, where he exchanged gunfire with officers again.

He then ran back into the structure and came out on the north side, where the gun battle continued. It was unclear who fired first in all three exchanges between the gunman and police.

Police officials said Griffin was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. Officers rendered aid until the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Homicide investigators found a loaded firearm with one round in the chamber and two rounds in the magazine next to Griffin, and additional live rounds were recovered from his body, police said.

Officers tried to render aid to the man who was shot in the car, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released.

It’s not clear if the man, believed to be a bystander, was hit in the gunfire exchange.