Long Beach police say they shot a man wielding what turned out to be a replica handgun at a Metro rail platform Downtown.
Shortly after 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to multiple reports of a man brandishing a firearm on the Metro platform at Fifth Street and Pacific Avenue, according to Long Beach police. Investigators believe he pointed the gun at multiple people on the platform and threatened to shoot them.
When officers arrived, he fled on foot and officers ran after him.
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During the chase, at least one officer fired at the man, hitting him in the upper body, police said. Officers recovered a replica handgun that fired BBs, police said.
The man was taken to a hospital, medically cleared and taken to jail for booking, police said, adding that no officers or bystanders were injured during the incident.
Police identified the suspected gunman as Tyrell Harris, a 35-year-old homeless man. He was arrested on suspicion of three counts of criminal threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of obstruction and resisting arrest, one count of exhibiting an imitation firearm and an unrelated felony warrant, police said. He was being held without the possibility of bail.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent investigation of the incident, as they do with all officer-involved shootings that result in injury or death.
Police said they are reviewing body camera footage from officers and will release it to the public as required by law.