According to police, two officers were confronting a pedestrian at Florence and Raymond avenues at about 11:15 p.m. Thursday when a suspect came up to them in a car.
Authorities said the suspect was very aggressive and was armed with a gun. The suspect put the gun down, but still came after officers, threatening them.
"The officers really tried to back off a number of times to give themselves some time," said LAPD Sgt. Mitzi Grasso. "He kept telling them he was going to kill them."
Although the suspect had put the gun down, when he reached toward his waistband, the officers opened fire, Grasso said.
After the shooting, police determined that the suspect had not been armed. It is unclear what he might have been reaching for in his waistband.
The identity of the suspect has not released pending notification of next of kin.
Police shut down Florence Avenue as they investigated the scene.
