LONG BEACH, Calif.—A man shot to death on July 9 by Long Beach police officers allegedly kidnapped, attacked, and attempted to carjack a person before officers arrived.
Officers were dispatched at 11:10 a.m. to the 1100 block of East 17th Street regarding “a dispute involving a person with a gun,'' said Officer Paige White of the Long Beach Police Department.
Arriving officers spotted a man believed in his 30s or 40s on a roof with what they believed was a firearm in his hand, White said.
Broadcast video showed the person pacing on the roof of a two-story building, behaving in an agitated manner and holding what appeared to be a handgun.
“Officers made several attempts to de-escalate the situation, as the man refused to put down the firearm,'‘ she said. ”Officers established a perimeter, activated SWAT and advised nearby residents to evacuate and/or shelter in place.’’
When the man still refused to put down the handgun, officers discharged 40mm less-lethal foam projectiles but he still did not comply, White said.
“After approximately 20 minutes, the man pointed the firearm at officers, which resulted in officers discharging their handguns and an AR-15 patrol rifle,'‘ she said. ”The man continued to manipulate the firearm in his hand and refused to follow multiple commands to drop the firearm.’’
SWAT officers were able to get onto the roof and attempt to aid the suspect after he became unresponsive. Long Beach Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, White said.
“Further investigation revealed the man kidnapped, physically assaulted, and attempted to carjack a victim prior to officers arriving on scene,'‘ she alleged. ”The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries to the upper body and was transported to a local hospital.’’
No officers were injured in the incident, White said.
A firearm was recovered at the scene, she said. All of the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras, and footage will be reviewed by police officials and made available to the public as soon as possible.
