Deputy was shot by partner’s gun, not transient’s, as first believed

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was shot by his partner’s gun, not the transient’s, during a struggle last month in Long Beach, as had initially been reported, authorities said.

Sheriff’s officials originally said the deputy was shot in the stomach May 26 by 23-year-old Noel Enrique Aguilar during an exchange of gunfire. The shootout left Aguilar dead.

But on Thursday, officials said the deputy was hit by a round from his partner’s gun as they attempted to arrest Aguilar near 69^th Way and Long Beach Boulevard shortly before 10 a.m.

Aguilar managed to wrestle away from the deputies and run north. The deputies caught up to him and a “second struggle occurred,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

Aguilar, who authorities said was armed with his own handgun, reportedly tried to take one of the deputy’s guns, prompting them to open fire, officials said.

Authorities are still trying to determine who fired the partner’s gun during the struggle.

Aguilar died at the scene, where his gun was recovered, according to the statement.

The deputy, who was not identified, is recovering at home, sheriff’s officials said.