How Fast? The Ernesto Sepulveda Incident

This is another posting in a series where I explore just how fast a criminal attack can happen through analyzing actual video-recorded events. One of the critical challenges both police and private citizens face when confronted with a criminal attack is recognizing what is happening and then reacting fast enough to respond effectively. This is not trivial since the attack is often underway before a defender even realizes that there is a problem. Even if the defender has a planned response, the speed of the attack can often prevent them from effectively responding in time.

On 5 July 2025, uniformed LAPD Gang Enforcement Detail officers observed Ernesto Sepulveda, riding a bicycle north on the sidewalk in 3900 block of South Western Avenue. The officers, believing that Sepulveda possessed a handgun, initiated a pedestrian stop.

When the officers asked Sepulveda if he was carrying a gun, he turned and fled from the officers. As he ran, Sepulveda drew a 9mm pistol from his waistband and fired multiple shots at the officers, grazing one officer’s cheek and striking him in the legs. Sepulveda continued to run and fired an additional round at other officers as they closed on him. Sepulveda’s pistol malfunctioned and he threw the weapon away while continuing to run from police. Pursuing officers eventually caught Sepulveda and took him into custody. The officer Sepulveda shot was treated for the wounds to his cheek and legs and hospitalized in stable condition.

If you are not familiar with COL Boyd’s Observe, Orient, Decide, Act cycle, it is worth reviewing. In a previous article in this series, I discussed the OODA framework and how it applies to armed encounters.*

Sepulveda Starting his draw

So how much time did it take for Sepulveda to draw and fire his pistol? His draw from the time he initiated the movement to the moment he fired at the first officer was 1.360 seconds.

The Moment the Officer Could Have Seen Sepulveda's Pistol

From the moment the officer could have initially seen the pistol until Sepulveda fired the first shot was 0.280 seconds. We can find ourselves in circumstances where there is no possibility of reacting to a deadly threat in time to prevent the assault. The officer is fortunate in that he only received a graze wound to the cheek rather than a hit to the head.

Sepulveda Fires With His Back To The Officer

 

 

Also of note: If we assume the officer could have reacted in time to prevent Sepulveda’s assault, the officer’s shots would have likely struck Sepulveda in the back. The value of body camera videos is apparent in this context since numerous police officers have been charged for shooting suspects in the back. Just because a suspect’s back is turned, it does not mean he is incapable of posing a deadly threat.

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* https://www.sensibleselfdefenseblog.com/2025/05/driveway-assault-how-fast-can-it-happen.html

* For an in-depth discussion of Boyd’s OODA framework: https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/ooda-loop/