Man shot by Azusa police after swinging shovel at officers

AZUSA, Calif. (KABC) -- A 45-year-old man who authorities say swung at officers with a shovel was injured after being shot by police following a confrontation in Azusa.

It all unfolded in the 5000 block of North Conwell Avenue shortly after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, when Azusa police officers on routine patrol spotted the man walking down the street. The man has been identified as Jose Juarez, an Azusa resident.

Authorities said when Juarez saw the officers, he hid behind some bushes. When the officers approached him, he apparently armed himself with a shovel and became combative.

Officers said they tried subduing him with a Taser and bean bag pellets with no success.

"The officers followed. The suspect climbed over a fence into a yard, armed himself with at least a rake, threw the rake at the officers. The suspect then armed himself with a shovel, again confronted the officers, and then there was an officer-involved shooting that occurred," said Detective Eduardo Aguirre with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

In a statement from sheriff's officials, when Juarez got hold of the shovel, he swung it several times, hitting one officer in the chest. That's when police opened fire.

Juarez's injuries were not life-threatening. He reportedly suffered gunshot wounds to his fingers, thigh and left elbow. He was reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital.

Family members said that this was not Juarez's first encounter with police. They said he was beat up by an officer in Azusa just a few weeks ago.

Geraldo Jurez, the man's bother, said that incident all started because his brother was drinking beer in public. He said officers confronted his brother about the beer, an argument erupted, and his brother ended up in the hospital. Family members showed Eyewitness News photos of Juarez, bloody and bruised following that incident.

Investigators have not commented about the alleged incident described by family members. The Azusa Police Department will be seeking felony charges against Juarez.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and police from Agoura Hills, Irwindale and Azusa were all investigating the incident.