Off-duty LAPD officer shot, killed while house hunting with girlfriend in attempted robbery

close

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for January 11

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer was shot and killed Monday night during an attempted armed robbery on the city's south side while house hunting. 

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded to the shooting in an alley call around 9:15 p.m. Monday. When they arrived, they found the off-duty officer with gunshot wounds and rushed him in a patrol car to a hospital where he died.

The officer was identified Tuesday as 27-year-old Fernando Arroyos, who had been with the department for three years. He was with his girlfriend and not in uniform at the time.  

In Memory of LAPD Police Officer Fernando Arroyos (Los Angeles Police Protective League)

"He had a promising future. A bright future that was taken away viscously over a street robbery," LAPD Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday.

Off-duty LAPD officer killed after shooting in South Los Angeles. (FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV))

COURT UPHOLDS FIRING OF LAPD OFFICERS WHO PLAYED POKEMON GO DURING HOLDUP

The couple was walking down an alley taking pictures of a property they were interested in buying when a pickup truck pulled up near them. Several men got out and confronted them. 

Mayor Eric Garcetti said Arroyos died trying to defend himself and his girlfriend. 

"My heart is broken," he said. "Our city's heart is broken."

Memorial photo of LA officer Fernando Arroyos

Moore said investigators have recovered Arroyos' gun and another weapon believed to be used in the killing. 

"We do believe we have an officer-involved shooting here that our officer exchanged gunfire with at least one of these suspects. We do have our officer’s gun, and we have an additional weapon that we believe was responsible for this assault," Moore said. 

It's unknown exactly how many suspects were involved in the shooting, and no arrests have been made. 

FAMILY OF LOS ANGELES BANKING EXECUTIVE BEATEN TO DEATH DEMAND MORE SERIOUS CHARGES FROM PROGRESSIVE DA

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD officers, commented on the loss on social media. 

"We pray for the officer’s family, and their fellow officers, during this time of pain and sorrow. This is an active investigation. More info to follow," the union tweeted. 

"Officer Arroyos’ death is a grim reminder that safety on the streets of Los Angeles is fleeting and that there is a growing disregard for human life and overt violence festering in our city. There is absolutely no reason why a promising young officer looking to invest in the very community he served is no longer with us," the union added in a memorial post on Arroyos’ death. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

A procession was held to transport the officer’s body from the hospital to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office in the city's Boyle Heights neighborhood.

Off-duty LAPD officer killed after shooting in South Los Angeles. (FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV))