Los Angeles and Torrance police were involved in two shootings in Torrance early Thursday when police came across vehicles similar to the one sought in a manhunt for an ex-LAPD officer suspected of shooting three other officers.
Neither incident actually involved the suspect, Torrance police Lt. Devin Chase told the LA Times.
Fired officer Christopher Dorner is suspected of killing a Riverside officer and wounding another early Thursday, shortly after shooting at two LAPD officers in the nearby city of Corona. One LAPD officer was grazed.
The first Torrance incident occurred about 5:20 a.m. in the 19500 block of Redbeam Avenue in Torrance, the LA Times reported.
Two people were struck by gunfire and transported to an area hospital with unknown injuries, the LA Times reported. No officers were injured.
The second incident, which involved Torrance police at a separate location, did not result in any injuries.
Both incidents involved vehicles matching the description of the one sought in connection with Dorner---a Nissan Titan truck with California license plate 8D83987 or 7X09131. Officers say Dorner may be switching between the two plates.
"Now it appears neither of them are directly related," Chase told the LA Times. "In both of them, officers believed they were at the time."
Los Angeles police are on tactical alert.
Police Cmdr. Andrew Smith says the department has taken such protective measures as reassigning motorcycle officers to cars.
The manhunt began after Dorner was named as a suspect in the weekend killing of a couple. One victim was the daughter of a former police captain who represented him during disciplinary proceedings that led to his firing.
Dorner wrote a manifesto pledging to bring "warfare" to the LAPD.
