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Malcolm Darnell Guss Jr. is charged with shooting multiple rounds at LAPD officers during a routine traffic stop in Willowbrook on July 3 

WILLOWBROOK, CA - Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Malcolm Darnell Guss, Jr., is charged with shooting at Los Angeles police officers Stefan Carutasu and Joshua Rodney during a traffic stop on July 3 in Willowbrook, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County.

“The heinous attack on two law enforcement officers in what should have been a routine traffic stop is absolutely horrific,” District Attorney Gascón said. “This unprovoked attack is a stark reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers confront. This act of violence is not only an assault on the officers, but also on the values of safety and justice of our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with officers Stefan Carutasu and Joshua Rodney, and the Los Angeles Police Department during this time.”

Malcolm Darnell Guss, Jr. (dob 12/23/92) is charged in case 24CMCF01337 on one count of attempted murder of a peace officer; two counts of assault with a machine gun upon a peace officer; one count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle; one count of possession of a machine gun; and two counts of possession of firearm by a felon. 

It is further alleged Guss personally and intentionally discharged a rifle.

Guss was arraigned today and pleaded not guilty to all charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled on July 29 in Dept. 10 of the Compton Courthouse.

On July 3, at approx. 9 p.m., Los Angeles police officers Carutasu and Rodney conducted a traffic stop involving Guss in the area of Broadway and Rosecrans Avenue. Before the officers exited their patrol vehicle, Guss allegedly shot at the officers with a fully automatic AR style rifle striking one of the officers twice resulting in two graze wounds to the head. Both officers suffered lacerations from the glass fragments of the patrol vehicle’s windshield.

Guss fled the scene in his vehicle. He was arrested by LAPD on July 12.

Guss is being held on $2,025,000 bail. If convicted as charged, Guss faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

This case is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.