An suspect armed with a handgun that was later determined fired blanks was fatally shot by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies before sunrise Wednesday in East Los Angeles.
Homicide investigators responded to the 1400 block of South Downey Road, about one-third of a mile south of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway, to assist deputies assigned to the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station with a death investigation reported at approximately 3:05 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Sheriff’s officials said several occupants inside the residence were contacted upon the arrival of the responding deputies.
The suspect left the home armed with a handgun, authorities said.
Investigators determined after conducting a preliminary investigation that the handgun was a weapon that fired blanks.
Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics arrived at the location and pronounced the suspect dead at the scene.
No deputies sustained any injuries during the shooting. The fatal shooting is being investigated by the California Department of Justice.
Anyone with information about the fatal shooting was urged to call the California Department of Justice at 916-210-2841. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.