LOS ANGELES, CA – A family celebration turned into a chaotic scene when a local man, Luis Romero, was shot while bravely tackling an armed suspect to protect a crowd of children.
The Incident and Heroic Action
The shooting occurred near the intersection of Normandie Avenue and James M. Wood Boulevard during large crowds and celebrations. Luis Romero was attending a family event when he noticed a gunman. Stating that his first instinct was to protect the many children around, Luis rushed the suspect.
During the struggle to disarm the gunman, Luis was shot through his left thigh. Witness footage obtained by the Los Angeles Times showed bystanders rushing to help Luis as he bled profusely on the ground. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for surgery.
Suspect Arrested and Facing Charges
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the scene and arrested 19-year-old Andy Rodriguez just before 7:00 p.m. Footage from the scene showed Rodriguez yelling angrily at bystanders while being handcuffed by officers.
The motive behind the incident remains unclear. Rodriguez is now facing serious legal consequences:
- One felony count of assault with a firearm on a person.
- Special allegations of using a firearm during a felony and causing great bodily injury.
- He is currently being held in custody on a $1.1 million bond, with his arraignment scheduled for June 30.
Long Road to Recovery
Luis has since been released from the hospital but faces a lengthy recovery process. His family notes that the injury has left him unable to work for the foreseeable future.
Described by his son, Oswaldo Romero, as a devoted father, grandfather, and hardworking provider, the family has set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page under his name to help cover mounting medical expenses and loss of income during his recovery.
