A suspect shot dead by police in the museum district of Exposition Park was carrying an air rifle, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Friday.
The shooting was reported at 9:30 a.m. Thursday near State and Figueroa streets. An LAPD motorcycle officer saw the suspect, who appeared armed with a rifle, according to a department statement.
Officers from multiple stations arrived after a call for backup.
“The officers located the man, later identified as 39-year-old Holman Gomez, as he walked along State Drive, according to an LAPD statement. “The officers verbalized with Gomez as he sat down on a nearby concrete bench. The officers continued to verbalize with Gomez when he stood up from the bench, holding a rifle. Gomez pointed the rifle in the officers’ direction, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.”
Gomez was hit, collapsed and was pronounced dead at the scene despite getting medical aid from officers at the scene. No details were released regarding how many officers fired shots at Gomez.
No officers or community members were injured.
The air rifle was recovered.
Gomez’s city of residence was not disclosed.
As the incident unfolded, students on the nearby USC campus received alerts to avoid the area because of police activity.