Los Angeles (ingleside index) – Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man during an alleged gunfight in East L.A.
Deputies responded to a shots-fired call at approximately 4:24 a.m. on Friday in the 1500 block of Helen Drive, an unincorporated residential neighborhood near the 10 and 710 freeway interchange in Los Angeles.
A caller reported that a man was firing shots into the air, according to a sheriff’s report released Friday afternoon. When deputies found the suspect, he allegedly began shooting at them.
The deputies fired back, striking the suspect, who dropped to the ground and allegedly kept shooting, CBS News Los Angeles reported.
Deputies finally managed to reach the fallen suspect. Paramedics arrived, provided medical treatment, and declared the man dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released his identity, and investigators are looking into the motive behind the shooting.
News helicopter footage captured a crime scene showing a blurred image of the body on the street, which appeared to lie in a pool of blood. More than a dozen yellow evidence markers indicated where bullet casings landed during the shootout.
No deputies sustained injuries, and multiple investigations have begun following standard protocol after someone gets struck by gunfire in an officer-involved shooting.
The Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau and Internal Affairs Bureau are conducting separate investigations. The Office of the Inspector General also responded to the scene and will provide independent oversight throughout the process.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
