Daniel Christopher Yealu, a 29-year-old resident of Los Angeles, died on April 24, 2014, after being shot by Los Angeles police officers. The incident occurred in the 4800 block of West Venice Boulevard in Mid-City. On April 7, 2014, Yealu walked into the Wilshire Division station and approached the front desk, where he fired a Glock pistol at two officers. One officer was wounded before both officers returned fire, hitting Yealu multiple times.
The wounded officer, a seven-year department veteran, was released from the hospital the next day. Police Chief Charlie Beck noted that the officer was "very, very lucky" and credited his quick response with saving his partner's life. The situation could have been much worse, as about 20 people were attending a community meeting nearby when the shots were fired.
Yealu was carrying extra magazines and had a heavily modified AK-47 in his car parked outside the station. He also possessed an arsenal of weapons, including a 9-millimeter handgun, a semi-automatic Sig Sauer handgun, an AR-15-style assault rifle, a 1960s SKS model assault rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun. Yealu had been charged with two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer and was hospitalized in critical condition before being pronounced dead on April 24 at 2:53 p.m. Yealu had previously applied to become an LAPD officer but was rejected. He had obtained a license to work as a security guard in 2005 and a firearm permit in 2007, both of which expired in 2013.
Yealu's father, Danny Yealu, learned of his son's actions when detectives visited him the day after the incident. He mentioned that he did not notice any warning signs and that his son had told him he was doing well. As a teenager, Daniel Yealu had been involved in gangs and had been picked up by police in Inglewood. However, he claimed to have turned his life around. Residents of Yealu's apartment complex described him as someone who mostly kept to himself. The investigation revealed that Yealu had been undergoing background checks required by Burbank police, although Burbank police officials stated they had no record of his application.
The incident led to a thorough investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. The coroner's office had not determined a cause of death immediately following the incident. The shooting raised concerns about security measures at police stations, especially during community meetings. The building's doors, usually locked at night, had been left open for the meeting, allowing Yealu to enter. The case highlighted the potential dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the importance of quick and decisive action in preventing further violence.
