Calling it an act of domestic terrorism, Hemet police are on high alert after a booby trap targeting members of the gang task force went off, narrowly missing an officer as he left his car to open a gate.<\/p>\n
The is the second time in recent months that members of the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force have been targeted.<\/p>\n
In Tuesday\u2019s incident, an officer was stepping out of his car to open a security gate at the task force headquarters when there was a loud crack and a bullet flew by just a few feet from him, landing 100 yards away in a nearby driveway. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an improvised device capable of firing a regular bullet, and it was attached in such a way so that when the gate was opened, it activated and fired.\u00a0Fortunately it narrowly missed,\u201d said Hemet Police Lt. Duane Wisehart. \u201cThe gun was affixed to a fence and hard to see. It could have definitely killed someone. This is domestic terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n
On New Year\u2019s Day, someone cut a hole in the roof of the building and rerouted a natural gas pipeline. Then the valve was opened, filling the office with gas. Police said an explosion could have\u00a0been set off had they not discovered the leak and emptied the building.<\/p>\n
Wisehart said the device found this week wasn\u2019t overly sophisticated but that it was deadly nonetheless. The building houses investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff\u2019s Department, the parole department and the district attorney\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
The unit is in the process of moving to another location.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Wisehart said Hemet has about 1,000 gang members, many who moved in from Los Angeles, drawn by low housing prices. Still, there are no suspects in this case.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be one person who is mad at the police or the gang task force,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone is being much more vigilant of their surroundings. We don\u2019t know how far this person is willing to go. It\u2019s unnerving.\u201d<\/p>\n
— David Kelly<\/a><\/p>\n More breaking news in L.A. Now:<\/strong><\/p>\n Verdict in case of accused serial killer Rodney Alcala due at 1:30 p.m.<\/a><\/p>\n Real-time map of food trucks comes to L.A.<\/a> SeaWorld San Diego cancels Shamu show for second day in row<\/a> Would you take a pay cut to save your co-workers’ jobs?<\/a><\/p>\n Two hikers rescued from Sylmar canyon<\/a> Police search for shooter who killed man in South L.A.<\/a>
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