Man fatally shot by L.A. County sheriff’s deputy in Hacienda Heights
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man in Hacienda Heights on Thursday night after he allegedly pulled a gun on them, authorities said.
The incident began in Downey about 1 p.m., when police responded to a family disturbance. A caller said the man was armed with a knife and gun and threatening to kill family members, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
As Downey police officers arrived, the man was driving away on his motorcycle. He “refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s department. The man, who has not been named, drove northbound on Paramount Boulevard to the southbound 5 Freeway and out of view.
During their investigation, Downey police learned that the man lived on the 15600 block of Windrush Drive in Hacienda Heights, authorities said.
Two Downey officers traveled to the area and watched his residence in an unmarked police vehicle. About 9:45 p.m., they saw him walking down the street.
The officers tried to detain the man, but he was uncooperative and told the officers that he was carrying a gun, according to the sheriff’s department.
The Downey officers requested assistance from sheriff’s deputies from the Industry Station. When they arrived, they began talking with the man, who started reaching for a handgun in his pocket, authorities said.
The deputies deployed “less-than-lethal weapons” on the man. It was unclear Friday morning what those weapons were.
Deputy Jeff Gordon, a spokesman for the sheriff’s department, said the shooting was still under investigation and few details were publicly available, but that the less-than-lethal weapons are typically stun guns, pepper spray or beanbag shotguns.
The man then “armed himself” with a handgun, and at least one deputy shot him, according to the sheriff’s department. It was unclear how many deputies fired shots.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and his handgun was recovered, authorities said.
The shooting, like all cases involving deadly force by deputies, is under investigation by the sheriff’s homicide and internal affairs bureaus, as well as the L.A. County District Attorney’s office.
Twitter: @haileybranson
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