Randal Simmons, 51

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Randal Simmons, a 51-year-old black man and a veteran of LAPD’s SWAT unit, was shot during a standoff with an armed suspect at 19828 Welby Way in Winnetka at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. Simmons was taken to Northridge Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 1 a.m. Simmons was one of of four people killed by a gunman. According to police, a man called 911 at about 9 p.m. Wednesday night and said he had killed three of his family members. Officers with LAPD’s West Valley Division called in the SWAT unit after the man refused to come out of the home. At about 12:30 a.m. SWAT officers broke through the front door, gunfire was exchanged and Simmons and another veteran officer were shot. The second officer was taken to the hospital, where he is listed in stable condition, police said.

According to assistant police Chief James McDonnell, Simmons is survived by his wife, two children; son and daughter, and parents. Simmons’ death is the first in the 27-year history of the SWAT unit, McDonnell said. For more on the incident see the Los Angeles Times Story.

More on Simmons in Jill Leovy’s story