Man with airsoft gun fatally shot by Long Beach police identified

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A man shot and killed by police in Long Beach while holding an airsoft gun was identified Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The coroner's office identified the man as 21-year-old Lionel Gibson of Long Beach.

The incident happened at 21st Street and Locust Avenue at about 4:45 p.m. Saturday, authorities from the Long Beach Police Department said.

Police said officers responded to the neighborhood and saw a man, armed with what appeared to be an assault rifle, talking to a man near a parked car.

Officers gave several commands to place hands up, but when the suspect did not comply and reached his hand toward the butt of the gun in his waistband, police opened fire, according to the LBPD.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and when authorities located the gun next to his body, they found it was an airsoft replica assault rifle.