A significant incident unfolded Thursday morning outside the California Science Center in Exposition Park when Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a man who was reportedly armed with what appeared to be a rifle. LAPD Deputy Chief Marc Reina stated that the shooting occurred around 9:30 a.m. after a motorcycle officer spotted the suspect walking west down State Drive, a road bordering the science center and the Exposition Park Rose Garden.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as multiple law enforcement officers responded to the location, engaging with the individual who continued down State Drive while armed. According to Reina, officers initially responded using bean bag guns in an attempt to diffuse the situation. However, the situation escalated when the man reportedly raised the weapon in the direction of police, prompting them to open fire.
Fortunately, no officers or bystanders were injured during the incident, although the man, believed to be around 35 years old and whose identity remains unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department personnel. The California Science Center was temporarily locked down but has since reopened, although the north side of the facility is still closed as a precaution.
The incident is now under investigation by various oversight bodies, including the LAPD’s department use-of-force investigators, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, and the LAPD’s inspector general. It remains unclear what specifically led to the decision to use lethal force, as preliminary reports indicate that the suspect did not fire his weapon.
Witness Stacey Hutchinson recounted his experience, mentioning that the man seemed in good spirits and even greeted him before the situation escalated. Hutchinson noted that the man appeared calm until police ordered him to drop his weapon, contradicting any initial assumptions that he had malicious intent regarding the California Science Center.
This event raises questions about how law enforcement approaches potentially dangerous situations while ensuring public safety, underlining the delicate balance that must be maintained in high-pressure scenarios.