SOUTH LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in South Los Angeles that came at the end of a vehicle pursuit, authorities said.
The shooting was reported at about 1 p.m. Saturday in the area of 107th Street and Western Avenue, said LAPD Officer Drake Madison of the Media Relations Section.
#LAPD: Officer Involved Shooting in area of 107th & Western. Public Information Officer, Sgt. Montgomery is enroute. @LAPD77thSt
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 1, 2016
The car chase began when police said they saw paper plates on a car that came back reported stolen.
Jeff Nguyen said police had not yet officially identified the deceased.
Alright I’m here. #LAPD in riot gear. Western/107th in #SouthLA pic.twitter.com/fgAQvx3Cu9
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) October 1, 2016
He was described as “possibly being as young as a teen.”
At the end of the chase, police and witnesses said the deceased was running from the location through back yards.
Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics were summoned to the scene at 1:05 p.m. but were cleared without transporting any patients, Dispatch Supervisor Cheryl Simms said.
A large gathering of police near the scene of the shooting could be seen in photos posted to social media.
I ❤️ my people. Thanks for the photo. Here’s Western/107th now after what I’m told is an officer involved shooting. #SouthLA pic.twitter.com/TK5EJo8WdT
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) October 1, 2016
Nguyen said some of the people, stricken with grief, were even unable to stand.
Witnesses told him the man was running with his hands up, and said he was telling officers he was unarmed, when police shot him about five times.
“We seen the little boy running, with the blue shirt on,” said one woman, “I seen him running with his hands up. Like ‘Don’t shoot me.’”
Police said they recovered a weapon at the scene.
