Long Beach police shot and killed a man who is suspected of wounding an LBPD officer during a standoff Tuesday evening on the steps of a North Long Beach church.
The officer, who was shot in the arm, was briefly hospitalized but is “in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement.
Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish said the standoff began around 3:15 p.m. when officers were called about a man who had a gun outside the church near Atlantic Avenue and 52nd Street.
Officers spotted a man who matched the description of the reported gunman, but when they tried to talk with him he “was uncooperative,” Hebeish said.
Police called in specially trained mental health officers, a negotiator and SWAT officers, but “the suspect remained uncooperative,” according to Hebeish.
After a 2.5-hour standoff, “an officer-involved shooting occurred in which both the suspect and approximately four officers discharged their firearms,” Hebeish said.
The gunman, who has not been publicly identified, died at the scene, according to Hebeish.
Hebeish said it wasn’t clear what the man was doing in front of the church. Bystanders said he was known around the neighborhood. Hebeish described him as “nonresponsive” when officers tried to negotiate with him.
“I think he asked for maybe cigarettes, but was noncompliant with their requests,” he said.
Hebeish said police are still investigating whether the man or an officer fired first. The chief did not detail exactly what preceded the shooting but said “at some point during the interaction, the gun was visible.”
The chief said he believes a flash-bang stun grenade was also used by officers, something an LBPD SWAT team typically does as it moves in to try to take someone into custody. It’s unclear if that’s what prompted the gunfire, which included approximately 10 rounds from officers, according to Hebeish.
Video from ABC7’s helicopter shows officers using a flashbang moments before the shooting.
“This is a stark reminder of the very real dangers that our law enforcement officers face every day, and I’m thankful that our officer is OK,” Hebeish said.
Hebeish did not identify the officer but said he is a senior member of the force.