'Armed And Dangerous' Man Wanted In Police Shooting

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles Sheriff's Department homicide detectives are warning residents to watch out for an attempted murder suspect considered armed and dangerous. Police on Thursday entered the fourth day of the hunt for a man suspected of trying to kill a police officer before disappearing into the wilderness Monday afternoon.

Juan Carlos Vazquez, 38, is considered to be armed and dangerous, and anyone who encounters him should call 9-1-1, said Deputy Tracy Koerner of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs' Department's Information Bureau.

The attempted murder took place at 3:55 a.m. Monday on Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest., Koerner said.

According to the sheriff's department, San Fernando Police officers had been pursuing Vazquez's vehicle in a remote area of Sylmar when they lost track of him. They caught up with him again after his vehicle broke down, and that's when he exchanged fire with police, according to a sheriff's department spokesperson.

Authorities believe Vazquez is with his girlfriend, Maria Deboni, 37.

Vazquez has black hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 176 pounds.
His girlfriend Deboni also has black hair and brown eyes. She is 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 145 pounds, according to authorities.

Anyone with information about Vazquez or Deboni's whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

City News Service and Patch Staffer contributed to this report.