Photo: Mario Tama / Getty Images
A woman who is used to swimming in the small artificial lake of MacArthur Park in Los Angeles paralyzed for a few hours to the Police in a bizarre incident that included shootings on Friday afternoon.
According to witnesses, The woman is a homeless person who lives in a tent nearby and is nicknamed “the mermaid” for her habit of going into the lake of MacArthur Park , which is home to dozens or hundreds of homeless Angelenos. The lake water is not clean.
Video footage of the officer involved shooting that occurred today around 3pm in MacArthur Park, Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/fRF5qsKqBz
– LaPuente 626 sgv (@LaPuente 626 sgv) April 3, 2021
Police He arrived at the park when it was reported that the woman had a gun and that she allegedly attacked some birds . It is unknown if she shot the officers.
UPDATE: Officers are in a standoff with a woman after reportedly exchanging gunfire with her at MacArthur Park https://t.co/Er8UfeWXHS pic.twitter.com/tQ3lp595 xW
– CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) April 2, 2021
The situation escalated and the woman then jumped to the lake as more officers arrived and a crowd gathered to watch with interest the incident, which occurred two days after a shooting in which four Hispanics died in Orange , southeast of Los Angeles.
DEVELOPING: “Were just here to help you, “an @ LAPDHQ officer says over a speaker while 8 heavily armed officers approach someone apparently suffering from a mental health crisis. @ LATACO # MacArthurPark pic.twitter.com/thcM0XwmpO
– Lexis -Olivier Ray (@ShotOn 80 mm) April 3, 2021
Police divers arrived at the scene, but never entered the lake because the woman was eventually arrested about three hours after the incident started. When she was in the water, she swam on her back, spat water upward, and yelled words that were not understood.
LAPD suits up in dive gear after an officer involved shooting at MacArthur Park Lake. Witnesses reported seeing woman shooting at ducks. She’s wading in the water as officers prepare to move in to bring this to a close. pic.twitter.com/DyjfbnB95 z
– Kandiss Crone (@KandissCroneTV) April 3, 2021