The Los Angeles Police Department Wednesday identified the officer who fatally shot a 39-year-old man suspected in a series of robberies in the Reseda area.
The officer was identified as SWAT Officer Daniel Black.
According to police, detectives and a SWAT team responded to the 7900 block of Reseda Boulevard about 4:45 a.m. Thursday to serve a search and arrest warrant on Zeff Rocco, who was suspected in the robberies.
“SWAT surrounded the apartment complex and made telephonic contact with … Rocco and ordered him to surrender,” police said in a statement.
“Shortly after, Rocco climbed over the third-story balcony of the apartment, armed with an assault rifle, and jumped to the ground. Rocco dropped the rifle as he struck the ground and immediately began to reach for it,” police said.
As Rocco “reacquired a grip on the rifle,” he was shot by police and taken into custody, police said. He died at a hospital.
No other injuries were reported.
“The rifle Rocco was armed with was recovered at the scene and was determined to be a 5.56-caliber semiautomatic ghost gun,” according to the LAPD. “The rifle was loaded with 39 rounds, and had an additional loaded magazine secured to the weapon.”