Two Killed in Domestic Violence Case

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) - In what police called a "tragedy in the worst way," a woman killed by her former boyfriend, who was then killed by officers, had just filed a domestic abuse complaint, and officers were outside her home when she was fatally stabbed.

Flor Medrano, 30, went to the LAPD Wilshire Division station Wednesday night to report she had been abused by her former boyfriend, LAPD Capt. Eric T. Davis of the Wilshire station said today at a news conference.

Authorities did not immediately release the name or age of the man, who was from Inglewood.

While Medrano was talking to authorities, the boyfriend sent her several threatening text messages, leading police to believe he might be near Medrano's home in the 1300 block of South Cochran Avenue. Police went to her home but did not find the man, Davis said.

Officers who specialize in domestic violence talked to Medrano, drove her back to her apartment and escorted her inside. They then waited outside in an unmarked police vehicle hoping to catch the boyfriend, he said.

"(These) officers were exerting extra effort relative to a follow-up investigation. They were very dedicated. They went above board as far as initiative," Davis said.

At 11:25 p.m., the officers called to make sure Medrano was safe and let her know they were about to leave, he said.

The cellphone call was interrupted, and when the connection was reestablished, the officers heard Medrano screaming.

The officers rushed into the building and "they observed through the window Ms. Medrano being stabbed by the suspect, and an officer-involved shooting occurred," Davis said.

Davis said the woman's child was not at home at the time. Investigators believe the man was able to get past police by entering through the roof.

"The suspect was able to scale down from the rooftop of the apartment building and make his way into the rear window of the bathroom," Davis said. "I reiterate, scale down from the rooftop of an apartment building and make his way into an apartment building. This was no small feat. This man was destined to cause harm to Ms. Medrano."

Police said the victim had the only key to the apartment and officers had earlier verified no one else had been inside before they brought the woman back.

"It was not something they gave thought to -- that this person would be able to literally scale downward a building and make way into a bathroom window," he said. "It is a tragedy in the worst way."