Manhunt Leads To Arrest In Patrol Car Shooting That Put South Bay Neighborhood On Lockdown

LOS ANGELES — Two Los Angeles area residents were in custody in Hawaii today in connection with the shooting of an occupied L.A. County Sheriff's Department patrol vehicle in Rolling Hills Estates last month that triggered a neighborhood lockdown and search for the gunman.

Shane Michael Mahoney, 39, and Arianna Charmaine Mitchell, 22, were arrested Tuesday in Hawaii, according to Sheriff Robert Luna. Mahoney is accused of firing a shot around 9 a.m. on Feb. 22 in the 600 block of Deep Valley Drive that struck the rear of a sheriff's patrol vehicle.

The deputy had responded to a report of multiple vehicles speeding in the 600 block of Deep Valley Drive, according to the department. As the deputy was driving away after speaking with the reporting party, he heard a loud pop coming from his marked patrol vehicle. Upon inspection, the deputy discovered a bullet hole on the passenger side of the trunk hatch.

The deputy driving the vehicle was not injured.

At a Thursday morning news conference announcing the arrests, Luna said the shot fired at the deputy struck the trunk of the vehicle and traveled into the rear seat panel. The bullet did not enter the front seat area, he added.

"Our deputy absolutely could have been killed,'' the sheriff said. "This was an attempted murder of a peace officer."

According to Luna, the day after the shooting, Mahoney and Mitchell flew to Hawaii, where they've been since.

Investigators, aided by surveillance video, identified Mahoney as the alleged shooter and served a search warrant at a home near the shooting scene, where they seized an assault rifle, three semi-automatic weapons and ammunition, the sheriff said.

The pair was arrested in Hawaii on Tuesday and is awaiting
extradition back to Los Angeles County, Luna said. Prosecutors said Mahoney allegedly fired the shot from the balcony of an apartment complex.

Mahoney's charged with felony counts of attempted murder and assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

Charges against him also include personal use and discharge of a firearm, according to court records.

Mitchell is charged with a felony count of being an accessory to the crime, for allegedly helping Mahoney attempt to evade arrest, Hochman said.

Mahoney faces 35 years to life in prison if convicted as charged; Mitchell faces up to three years behind bars, according to Hochman.

Luna said it remains unclear what motivated the shooting.

The deputy who was targeted in the shooting had responded to the area for a call of a reckless driver and was driving away when the shot rang out, Luna said.

City News Service contributed to this report.