Swift action prevents potential tragedy with Armed Suspect
A “keep the peace” call at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria hotel on Wilshire Blvd. took an unexpected turn on Thursday morning, leading Beverly Hills Police officers to respond.
At approximately 9:39 a.m., officers were dispatched to 9850 Wilshire Blvd. following a request from hotel security for a welfare check on a male guest, whom they suspected might be armed. Before law enforcement arrived, hotel security, acting on concern, knocked on the guest’s door only to hear a chilling response, “I’m going to shoot through the door!”
The Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) deployed a drone to assess the situation. The drone captured visuals of the suspect brandishing a firearm on the hotel balcony. In addition to deploying Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel, Crisis Negotiation (CNT) personnel, detectives, and mutual aid resources, the BHPD Real Time Watch Center kept a vigilant eye on the unfolding events.
As resources converged on the scene, crisis negotiators prepared to communicate with the armed individual. Prioritizing the safety of all involved, officers requested the suspect exit his room unarmed, a demand he willingly complied with, leading to a peaceful resolution. The suspect was then safely taken into custody.
The suspect, Joseph Leonardi, a 41-year-old from Woodland Hills, California, was booked on the following charges: PC 29800(a)(1) – Felon in possession of a firearm and PC 246.3 – Negligent discharge of a firearm, according to a press release from Lieutenant Andrew Myers, Beverly Hills Police Department, Public Information Officer
No injuries were reported during the incident, and hotel guests were evacuated safely, according to CBS News. Preliminary findings from the investigation conducted by detectives revealed that the suspect was a convicted felon who had discharged several rounds within his hotel room.
