Assault Suspect Killed In East Hollywood OIS
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A suspect wanted for assault with a deadly weapon was fatally wounded in an officer-involved shooting in East Hollywood Sunday.
Officers were dispatched to Sunset and Hobart boulevards in front of a 99 Cents store at approximately 3:45 p.m. to investigate a report of a vandalism when they encountered a suspect armed with a knife, according to a LAPD spokesperson.
LAPD Commander Dennis Kato said officers tried to use non-deadly force before firing on the suspect.
"They saw the suspect on the sidewalk outside of the 99 Cents store armed with a knife. After the taser, he continued to come at the officers and an officer-involved shooting occurred," Kato said.
The suspect died at the scene.
No officers were injured in the shooting.
Police would not say how many shots were fired or if both officers shot at the man.
A witness, who did not wish to be identified, said she was driving by the store with her mom when they heard about four gunshots.
"Right when we heard the gunshots, we turned around and we saw him already laid down," she said.
Another witness on the scene who also did not want to be identified said the man was homeless and fighting with store owners over a shopping cart.
"I know that he was very, very angry because the fight with the security and the boy that took care of the carts took 10 or 15 minutes outside," the man said.
Investigators were expected to remain on the scene late into the evening Sunday.
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