A man shot and killed by police last week in South Los Angeles pointed a rifle at officers before he was fatally wounded, authorities said Monday.
Primitivo Macias-Rodriguez, 46, of Los Angeles, died at the scene of the shooting, which occurred just after 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at San Pedro Street and Florence Avenue.
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department‘s Metropolitan Division had spotted a car being driven erratically in the area of Florence Avenue and Main Street and began following the vehicle, according to the LAPD.
The driver of the car continued eastbound on Florence Avenue and collided with another vehicle before striking a light pole, police said.
“The officers drove toward the suspect’s vehicle; the suspect pointed a rifle through an open driver’s door window at the officers,” according to the LAPD. “At that time, two officers fired their handguns at the suspect. The suspect was struck by gunfire. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and determined the suspect was dead. A loaded rifle was recovered at the scene.”
The occupants of the vehicle struck by the suspect’s car sustained only minor injuries and were not taken to a hospital, police said.
No officers were injured.
–City News Service