Protesters gather after LA sheriff's deputies shoot Black man during confrontation

Deputies say the man had a handgun and was fighting with them.

September 1, 2020, 6:17 AM

Protesters gathered in South Los Angeles on Monday night after sheriff's deputies shot and killed a Black man who they say had a handgun and was fighting with them.

The shooting occurred Monday afternoon after two deputies pulled over a man who was riding a bicycle in violation of vehicle laws, according to Lt. Brandon Dean of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The man got off the bike and ran off, Dean said, and the deputies chased him down.

"Our suspect was holding some items of clothing in his hands, punched one of the officers in the face, and then dropped the items in his hands," Dean told reporters late Monday. "The deputies noticed that inside the clothing items he dropped was a black semiautomatic handgun, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred."

Police in South Los Angeles respond after Los Angeles sheriff's deputies shot and killed a Black man who they say had a handgun and was fighting with them, Aug. 31. 2020.
KABC

The suspect was struck several times, with both officers firing their weapons, according to Dean.

Deputies recovered the handgun that the man had been carrying, he said. The investigation is ongoing.

Members of Black Lives Matter LA called on demonstrators to protest the deadly shooting at the site of the incident in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Westmont. Video of a demonstration overnight, which was posted on social media, shows tense scenes between protesters and police near where the shooting occurred.

ABC News' Will Gretsky, Marilyn Heck and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.

Related Topics