By Brett Callwood
According to the Gardena Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a man was shot and killed by a Gardena police officer after he opened fire at the police during a traffic stop.
NBC LA have reported that the incident occurred, “just after 11 p.m. Friday on the 2100 block of West Rosecrans Avenue. Police said the officer noticed a firearm within the driver’s reach and made multiple commands to the man to not reach for the weapon. Gardena police said the man ignored those commands, exited the vehicle armed with the firearm and fired at officers. Officers then fired back and struck the man, officials said.”
“The officer issued multiple commands directing the male not to reach for the firearm. Despite those commands, the male armed himself with the firearm, exited the vehicle, and fired at officers,” deputies said in a media release. “An officer-involved shooting then occurred.”
The man received medical aid at the scene, by officers and then by paramedic. He dies at a local hospital.
The name of the deceased man, identified by LASD as a Black man, and the officer that shot him, have not been released.
“A handgun was found at the scene,” the LASD media release reads in part. “No officers or other persons were injured as a result of this incident.”
LASD homicide detectives are assisting Gardena Police Department officials with the investigation .
