Armed robbery suspect fatally shot by deputies in East Los Angeles

EAST LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A fatal deputy-involved shooting occurred in East Los Angeles early Sunday morning, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

After responding to a street robbery call near the Nueva Maravilla Housing Community on Colonia De Las Magnolias at around 2 a.m., deputies confronted a male suspect and a struggle ensued.

During the struggle, the suspect between the age of 20 and 25 "attempted to arm himself" with a handgun before deputies fatally shot him, according to LASD Lt. Derrick Alfred said.

Homicide detectives later arrived on the scene, where family members believe the man who died was their 21-year-old son.

"We're just distraught," said Lisa Vargas, who believes the still-unidentified suspect may be her son. "We're trying to figure out what is going on here, is this our family member? They won't even tell us."