Police Arrest Man They Say Tried to Shoot Them with Handmade Gun

From the Redondo Beach Police Department:

A suspect with a self-made 12-gauge zip gun attempted to shoot a Redondo Beach police officer Monday evening in Redondo Beach.

Alfredo Hernandez, 39 years old, a transient with a last known address in Harbor City, was arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer and possession of an illegal/dangerous weapon (the zip gun).

The Redondo Beach police officer was detailed to a subject sleeping in the bushes in the 2200 block of Carnegie Lane at around 7 p.m. Hernandez was immediately belligerent with the officer upon initial contact, and would not follow the officer’s commands to keep his hands out of his pockets.

Hernandez retrieved what at first appeared to be nunchuks from his clothing, and pointed the weapon at the officer. Based on Hernandez’s actions, the officer used the less-lethal taser to subdue the subject. The taser, however, was not effective, and the suspect continued to manipulate the back of the weapon and pointed it at the officer.

Fellow Redondo Beach police officers were summoned to assist to help take the suspect into custody. When the assisting officers arrived on scene the suspect dropped the weapon and started running from officers.

Officers were able to subdue the combative suspect and place him under arrest. Officers identified the weapon used by Hernandez as a 12-gauge zip gun. The zip gun consisted of two galvanized pipes (barrels), both about 11 inches long, taped together with electrical tape. One barrel had an expended 12-gauge shotgun shell and the other barrel had a live 12-gauge shotgun round inserted inside.

The zip gun was capable of being fired by pulling back on a block of wood that would cause a nail to strike the primer of the 12-gauge shotgun round, and thereby release the lead shot inside the round.

Redondo Beach Police detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors filed charges of attempt murder and Hernandez has a bail amount of $1.070 million and is due in court for arraignment on Wednesday at the Torrance Court.

PHOTO Alfredo Hernandez booking photo. Courtesy the Redondo Beach Police Department.