The news couldn't get any closer than if it dropped in my yard. First the bank robbery at F&M and now this. I was on my way out to lunch with Julio and saw cops racing by with sirens blazing. The thought always comes to mind, I wonder what's going on? While at lunch, a friend called to tell me she was walking home (she lives near me) and there were lots of cops with guns drawn. I then called my boss to see what was going on and she said she was on her way out there for an officer involved shooting but that was all the info she could offer. I tried to sit and enjoy lunch because I knew most of the PT photographers were out there but I couldn't help but want to be a part of the coverage myself. We jumped on the freeway headed home and it was packed. I got off at Atlantic and when we crossed back over I noticed that the southbound lane was bumper to bumper and the northbound lane was empty. I pulled over and grabbed my little camera (I always carry it now) and shot a photo from the overpass. Julio then dropped me off while he went to get the kids. Their school was not on lockdown. He then called me to see if I was ready to go to the boy scout outing I was suppose to go to and I was already out on the scene and didn't want to miss anything. I was on the outside perimeter but there wasn't a good view of anything. All I knew what there was a manhunt going on but we had no idea if any of the suspects were even in the area. I met a fellow photographer and we decided to walk back to Woodruff to see what view we had there. While taking the back streets I noticed a tv camera man talking to a woman at a corner house and heading to the back. I ran over and found out he was going to shoot from her backyard and I joined. We soon got word that they believed the suspect was in the brush near the off ramp and they were going to drop in tear gas. We watched the process and did catch a breath of tear gas, not too bad. The brush then caught on fire and we got some amazing shots. The suspect was flushed out and two more still remain at large. It was a very interesting day, I don't think I have seen that many swat officers so close to home along with a sniper, but it was so exciting to see how it all unfolded. I had one shot run in the LA Times and some other shots ran in the Press-Telegram. That was pretty cool for me because I do so much for the PT I never thought to call up the LA Times and see if they were interested. I saved a couple copies for my family who thinks its so cool. Let's just hope breaking news doesn't get any closer to home. (but If it does, I better keep my camera charged.)
