Body Camera Footage Shows Chaos as LAPD Officers Exchange Gunfire Inside South LA Liquor Store
Newly released body camera footage from the Los Angeles Police Department reveals the harrowing moments when a routine patrol turned into a violent gun battle inside a South Los Angeles liquor store. The incident, which unfolded in the early morning hours of August 31, left shelves riddled with bullet holes and a 33-year-old suspect wounded.
The confrontation began shortly after 1 a.m. near the corner of Ninth Avenue and West Jefferson Boulevard. According to LAPD, officers on extra patrol in the area spotted a man later identified as Malik Sala. Body camera video shows officers entering the store and initially attempting to engage him calmly.
For several tense seconds, the exchange seemed almost routine. Officers urged Sala to “just relax” and “calm down.” But the situation escalated rapidly when the officers noticed a firearm concealed in his waistband. As they moved in to detain him, Sala pulled the weapon, sparking a sudden and chaotic firefight inside the store.
Store surveillance footage, also released by police, captures the moment Sala fired his gun at officers. Bullets tore through shelves of snacks, sending chips and candy flying as officers scrambled for cover. The scene resembled a Hollywood action sequence, but this was no movie—it was a real-life shootout in a neighborhood convenience store.
Despite being hit in the arm by return fire, Sala continued shooting as he staggered toward the store’s exit. Blood dripped from his left arm while he used his right hand to keep firing through the open front door at officers positioned outside behind their patrol cars. Commands of “Come out!” and “Get back!” echoed as the tense standoff stretched on.
Officers eventually moved in to subdue Sala, who was visibly weakened and unable to lift his injured arm. Video shows him collapsing as officers secured the scene and called for medical aid. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities have since confirmed that no officers were injured during the gun battle, though the liquor store sustained significant damage from the barrage of bullets. LAPD officials say the quick response and coordination of the officers likely prevented further tragedy.
Sala now faces multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a felon. Investigators are still working to determine what led up to the confrontation.
The release of the footage has sparked conversations once again about the dangers officers face in day-to-day patrols and the risks posed by armed confrontations in public spaces. For residents, the images of a liquor store turned into a battleground serve as a stark reminder of how quickly routine encounters can erupt into chaos.
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