Off-Duty Deputy Kills Boy, 16, in Holdup Attempt

An off-duty sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a 16-year-old boy who tried to hold him up with what turned out to be a starter pistol at an automatic teller machine in Montebello, police said Monday.

Marco Gomez of La Puente died at the scene of the shooting Sunday night outside a Union Bank branch at 850 N. Wilcox Ave. Detective Bill Scholl said the deputy was trying to withdraw cash when he was approached from behind by Gomez about 8:30 p.m.

The boy allegedly jabbed his pistol into the deputy’s back and ordered him to hand over his money. The deputy opened his wallet and after grabbing the cash, the youth began walking off, Scholl said. The deputy pulled out his service revolver and identified himself as a law enforcement officer as he ordered the boy to stop. Instead, the youth spun around and raised his starter pistol. Fearing that it was a small-caliber handgun, the deputy opened fire, hitting Gomez several times.