A man was fatally shot by police when he attempted to evade officers during a traffic stop in North Long Beach Thursday evening, Long Beach police announced Friday morning.
The officer-involved shooting happened at 6:23PM near 68th Street and Long Beach Boulevard on Thursday, March 10, according to a release from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
The incident began when patrol officers observed a vehicle code violation in that area. The motorist then “began driving through the neighborhood acting in a suspicious and evasive manner,” officials stated.
Before officers initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle suddenly stopped in the middle of Long Beach Boulevard and a passenger ran out to escape the officer’s traffic stop, according to the LBPD.
Officers chased the suspect to an alley near 68th Street and Orcutt Avenue—about a block and a half from where the vehicle stopped.
“As the suspect entered an alley, he produced a firearm, refused to drop it, and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” officials stated.
Police rendered medical aid immediately after the shooting and continued to do so until Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) personnel arrived, according to officials.
Paramedics then transported the suspect—who sustained a gunshot injury to the upper torso—to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Police recovered a gun at the scene. Officials said they are not releasing a further description of the driver of the vehicle, who remains outstanding.
According to the release, the officers were part of a resource deployment by the LBPD to impact violent crime in response to increased shooting incidents citywide.
Officials stated that as a result of these efforts, more guns have been removed from city streets in the first two months of 2016 than in the same time frame last year.
Nearly 30 shootings—including non-injury incidents—have occurred in the city so far this year, according to Post records.
The suspect will be identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, which is conducting its own independent investigation as to the cause of death, according to the LBPD.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is also conducting an independent investigation of the shooting, as is standard protocol for all officer-involved shootings within the county that result in injury or death.
The Long Beach Homicide Detail investigates all officer involved shootings. This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call LBPD Homicide Detail at 562.570.7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1.800.222.TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
The Police Department thoroughly reviews all use of force incidents through a rigorous multi-step process that evaluates legal, policy, tactical, and equipment issues. Additional information regarding the LBPD officer involved shooting investigative process is available on the website.
First photo courtesy of Long Beach Post reader Rebecca Huckeba. Second photo courtesy of LBPD.
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