Azusa police officer fatally shoots man who pointed handgun at him, authorities say

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Monday, January 16, 2017
Azusa officer fatally shoots man who pointed handgun at him
An armed suspect was shot and killed by police after he pointed a handgun at an officer in Azusa on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, investigators said.

AZUSA, Calif. (KABC) -- An Azusa Police Department officer shot and killed a 49-year-old man Sunday evening after the suspect pointed a handgun at him, authorities said.

Police responded to a report of a man with a gun and shots fired in the 1800 block of Ranch Road at about 11:21 p.m., the department said in a statement. Officers arrived at the scene and contacted the man, who refused to obey their commands, investigators said.

The suspect then aimed a firearm at one of the officers, according to the news release.

"Fearing for his life, the officer fired several rounds from his duty weapon at the suspect," the statement said, "striking the suspect at least once in the upper torso."

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not immediately identified.

In accordance with protocol, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives are assisting in an investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.