A suicidal suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with sheriff’s deputies in East Los Angeles Wednesday morning, a watch sergeant told City News Service.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received the initial call and responded to South Downey Road and Triggs Street at about 1:35 a.m. Wednesday. The suspect called the sheriff’s East L.A. station and said he was suicidal, according to the sergeant.
The man emerged with a gun when authorities tried to make contact, compelling deputies to take cover, then he retreated back into the home, the department said. Deputies called for a SWAT-type response from the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau and the Crisis Negotiations Team to facilitate a possible surrender.
The suspect emerged a second time, this time shooting at deputies, who returned fire, the sergeant said. The man was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies or members of the public were injured.
The shooting will be investigated internally by the sheriff’s department and by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta also announced it would investigate the fatal shooting.
“Following notification of this incident, (state) Department of Justice’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team initiated an investigation in accordance with AB 1506 mandates,” according to a statement from Bonta’s office. “Upon completion of the investigation, it will be turned over to DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review.”
Anyone with information regarding the shooting or the suspect was asked to call 916-210-2871.