El Monte police shoot allegedly armed suspect outside burning home
El Monte police shot a man who was allegedly armed with multiple guns outside a burning home on Sunday night.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, firefighters and police were called to the 5100 block of Elrovia Avenue at around 7 p.m. for reports of a structure fire.
Police arrived at the scene first and allegedly found a man armed with a rifle who was sitting in a lawn chair in the yard of a burning home, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which assumed the investigation upon request from El Monte PD.
LASD investigators said that the "home was engulfed in flames, and the front lawn was smoldering" when police arrived.
"The male refused to comply with the officers and pointed the rifle directly at the officers, at which point an officer involved shooting occurred," a news release from LASD said. "The male was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground."
Firefighters said that an exchange of gunfire occurred between police and the suspect, during which the man was shot. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
El Monte police ordered the firefighters to stay down the street until they were cleared to approach the scene following the shootout.
"We're really proud of the collaboration with El Monte PD, given the dynamic nature of a scene like this with an active structure fire, with firearms, with shots fired," said LACoFD Captain Aaron Katon. "They did a great job of coming in, securing the scene, keeping our personnel safe and letting them get in there and do the job we do."
The cause of the fire is still unknown. Firefighters said no other people were found inside the residence.
No officers or firefighters were injured during the incident, which remains under investigation.
Neighbors who live on the street told CBS LA that the man was sitting outside of the home in what looked to be military clothing. One resident said he watched as the man was taken away on a stretcher after he was shot in the shoulder.
Deputies said that a rifle and two handguns were found on the driveway after the shooting.
