Police fatally shot a homeless man who allegedly pulled a gun on officers south of downtown Riverside Saturday.
The shooting happened around 8:20 a.m. when officers attempted to contact 34-year-old Felix Jerry Marquez in the 3700 block of Elizabeth Street, according to Officer Ryan Railsback, a spokesman for the Riverside Police Department.
The officers were part of the department’s Public Safety Engagement Team, which also consists of social workers and a code enforcement officer. Railsback said the team often checks the area because it is commonly frequented by people experiencing homelessness.
The officers approached Marquez while the other city employees stayed behind in the patrol vehicle, according to Railsback. Marquez began walking away before allegedly turning around, pulling out a handgun and pointing it at the officers.
“An officer-involved shooting then occurred. The suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries and died,” Railsback said.
A records check determined Marquez had outstanding felony and misdemeanor arrest warrants.
No one else was injured in the shooting.
Police said a handgun was found next to where Marquez was shot.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department will lead the investigation into the shooting.