LAPD discusses use of force in Los Feliz officer-involved shooting

LOS FELIZ, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man with his arm wrapped in a gray cloth who was shot by police officers in Los Feliz remained in critical condition Monday.

On Friday, LAPD officers in a patrol vehicle were heading eastbound on Los Feliz when Walter Deleon began walking and yelling at them. Police say he had one of his hands wrapped in some type of cloth or towel.

"He put his hands together and held them out in the direction of the officers and walked towards them in an aggressive manner. The officers gave him some commands, which he didn't respond to and then the officer-involved shooting occurred," LAPD Commander Andy Smith said.

Cell phone video shows the man on the ground, bleeding from his head, after being shot by police.

"I heard three gunshots, so I run down and my neighbor actually saw the guy on the floor. He was bleeding really profusely from his head," witness Kareem Lahlou said.

"I heard screaming and I heard shots fired and I looked outside and it was horrible," witness Kate Freund said.

The video shows that while the wounded suspect was on the ground, officers placed him in handcuffs. Many residents wondered why?

"It's because that person has not been searched yet. He may have a weapon on him, and he's still a suspect in this case, so we teach our officers to handcuff every time," Smith said.

Police say they are still looking for witnesses and any surveillance video. The officers involved were removed from the field until LAPD Chief Charlie Beck reviews the investigation.

Residents have a lot of questions about what happened.

"The police have a very difficult job to do. I'm not envious of what they have to do and face on a daily basis, but at the same time I think that if it was a threat, shoot him in the leg," Freund said.