South Gate officer-involved shooting under investigation

SOUTH GATE, Calif. (KABC) -- An investigation was underway following an officer-involved shooting in South Gate Tuesday morning.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the shooting occurred in the 13400 block of Paramount Boulevard around 8:30 a.m. They said South Gate police were responding to a disturbance call at a business.

A witness said he saw the confrontation from his car. He was parked at an intersection on a red light when he noticed the suspect walking on the sidewalk along Paramount when three deputies approached in their vehicles and told him to stop.

The witness said the deputies ordered the suspect several times to put his hands up. It appeared they could not see his right hand as he refused to follow orders, the witness said. He claimed the suspect was shot because his hand was in his pocket.

The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.

"He kept walking, and the first guy - the first deputy - ...he shot him right away," the witness, who did not want to be identified, said. "The suspect, he doesn't remove the right hand in the sweater. He kept the right hand in the sweater."

A nearby preschool was placed on lockdown for some time during the investigation. The Paramount on-ramp to the 105 Freeway was also shut down.

South Gate police said no officers were injured in the incident.

Authorities have not recovered a weapon.

The investigation is ongoing.