Gunman firing at cars in Hollywood killed by cops

Updated 5:31 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES - A gunman who fired at cars and shouted "kill me" and "I'm gonna die!" was shot to death Friday by police after wounding a driver in the heart of Hollywood, authorities and a witness reported.

The unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were hurt, Los Angeles police Officer Cleon Joseph said.

Police had few details. However, witness Oscar Herrera told KABC-TV that he saw the gunman walking down the middle of Vine Street near Sunset Boulevard, firing at least nine shots into the air and at passing cars while shouting "Kill me!" and "I'm gonna die!"

"People were running all over," Herrera said. "People was ducking."

The 40-year-old male driver of a Mercedes-Benz was wounded in his upper body and taken to a hospital in unknown condition. A truck and another car were struck with bullets.

The gunman eventually ran out of bullets and pulled a knife before a policeman shot four or five times at the attacker, Herrera said.

Dave Pepper told KCAL-TV that he was in his car when the gunman attacked him.

"This guy came running across the street and he put the gun right up to this window," Pepper said as he sat in the car. "Why he didn't pull the trigger I don't know ... I thought maybe he was out of bullets."

Investigators were trying to determine a motive for the attack. The area was cordoned off, snarling traffic in the heart of Hollywood, as the gunman's body remained in the street under a white sheet for more than an hour after the attack.

[Indy_Mason]

Eyewitness says he heard the shooter repeatedly shouting "Allahu Akbar" as he fired at passing cars. Why doesn't CBS mention the "Allahu Akbar" shouting. Is this not relevant?
FF to 2:40 where eyewitness says gunman was shouting "Allahu Akbar".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9bn-k2UtBg&feature=share

[Drolls]

They say A witness said "kill me", etc. That ONE witness said what they WANTED to report.

[None_Ya]

Not ONE news service has the courage to report on what this man was also yelling.

_http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2011/12/hollywood-jihad-shootout-gunman-calmly-targeted-drivers-people-shouting-allahu-akbar.html

[Fatesrider]

This reminds me of something funny...

The United States ranks fourth in the world in the number of people murdered by firearms, and number one in the world in the number of people who commit suicide by firearm.

What's so funny about that? Well, at least most of the suicide by firearms are people who support gun rights in the first place. Gotta be a bright side to it. Just don't tell them that. After all, if they wised up and banned the private ownership of firearms, there'd be more of them running around because a gun is such a coward's way of killing one's self. If we made it harder to get guns, well, I expect the number of murders and armed robberies and drive by shootings and muggings and, well, all the crime committed by firearms would go away. Not that all crime would go away, but it seems to me less crime is better than more, even if the right-wing doesn't believe in that.

That's also funny, in an odd sort of way.

Oh, I know... The right-wing supports keeping guns on the streets to have a high crime rate so they can crack down on crime and institute the fascist state they've always dreamed about.

I can't think of any other reason, rational or otherwise, that we tolerate the personal ownership of guns.

[bradoxn]

Hats off the cops. HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bojax39]

"Gunman firing at cars in Hollywood killed by cops"

Good.

[newsworthy8]

America is a crime ridden country..I have so much shame for this country..and don't say it happens in other countries..I don't give a dam about them..it's this dam country and we as citizens need to do something..now and very quickly..

[AKAZIP]

So California: how's that gun ban working for you?

[Well_You_Aint_Me]

CA doesn't have a "gun ban". There are limitations to their carry laws and how many bullets can be in one magazine (six I think). But there is no ban on guns in CA.

[Dr_Pangloss]

There is no gun ban in California or in any other state of the United States.

[baileyccc]

One more scumbag off the streets forever, this is a good thing.

[mecanik-2009]

I have to agree. It turned out reasonably OK with the scumbag gone but I feel for the victims. They probably hurt quite a bit with bullet wounds. I'm told a bullet wound hurts like crazy after a while.

[centexguy]

I can't believe some of these posts. People died and it seems that half of the posts are just looking for typos.
And the anti-gun posts are just as bad. The only way gun control could possibly work is if they got rid of every gun on earth. That is obviously out of the question as it would be impossible to do. Guns are here to stay whether you like it or not. Passing laws restricting gun ownership means nothing to people who break laws. It is a huge waste of time and taxpayers money to try to legislate guns away. If you don't want one, don't buy one, but don't try to tell me that I can't own one.
Was the shooter a legal gun owner? Who knows. There are flaws in the system now, no doubt. If you can come up with a perfect system please, by all means, let us know.

[nottblu]

Very True!

[Dr_Pangloss]

Have you heard of a place called Western Europe? Very few guns, practically no gun violence.

[credibility2]

The coward murderer made the choice of using his gun to try and kill others. Hope those he injured will fully recover. I commend the cops for getting rid of this bottom feeder.