Authorities have identified 47-year-old Michael Bernard Emch Jr., an Irvine resident, as the man who was fatally shot Monday night by Seal Beach police.
Officers went to the 100 block of Old Ranch Road at about 9:35 p.m. Monday “regarding a suspicious person in front of a residence,” the Seal Beach Police Department reported.
“Officers contacted the subject outside of the residence, the subject produced a gun, and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” police said in a statement. “After the shooting, police officers transitioned to providing lifesaving efforts to the suspect.”
Emch was subsequently transported to a hospital where he died, police said. A handgun was recovered at the scene, police said, adding that no officers were hurt.
“The Orange County District Attorney’s Office responded to initiate the investigation into the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting,” police said. “The Seal Beach Police Department Detective Division and Internal Affairs Division also responded to the location.”
On Tuesday morning, Matt Miller, an investigator with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, was out canvassing the housing complex where the shooting took place, asking neighbors if they witnessed anything. Some neighbors recalled hearing what sounded like fireworks popping last night, according to Miller, but he had not located any eyewitnesses.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to contact Sgt. Jeff Gibson at 562-799-4100 ext. 1128.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
City News Service contributed to this report.