- Officers asked Hispanic youth Luis Herrera to drop the weapon, which appeared to be a rifle, as he left his home; the victim had reported an incident of domestic violence to 911, an altercation that turned out to be false
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) released body camera video of a shooting in which a 19-year-old Hispanic youth died who, after investigations, turned out to be carrying an air rifle last weekend in South Los Angeles.
LAPD officers had responded to a call reporting an incident of domestic violence at a residence at the intersection of 102nd Street and Grand Avenue on Saturday, September 17.
In the report released by the LAPD, recordings made to 911 were shown in which the victim, the Hispanic Luis Herrera, reported an incident of domestic violence in which, allegedly, his father was assaulting his mother.
Related: Cops shoot dead man holding airsoft rifle after family disturbance in South Los Angeles
LAPD officials said Herrera had left the residence armed with a weapon, which appeared to be some type of rifle.
Investigators later determined that the young man was holding a realistic-looking airsoft-type rifle.
In the recording, it is observed when the two officers arrive at the house and enter the front yard through the door that was open.
As they walk to the front door of the home, Herrera comes out with what appears to be a rifle.
“Hey, hey, put that down!” The police officers asked the teenager, as heard in the video released by the Los Angeles Police Department.
“The officers positioned themselves and gave Herrera verbal commands to drop the rifle,” LAPD Capt. Kelly Muniz said in narration of the body camera video.
“However, he did not comply with the officers’ orders, shouldering the rifle and pointing it directly at the officers, resulting in an officer-involved shootout,” the officer added.
Family surveillance cameras also recorded the incident, capturing the moment Herrera’s family ran out of the backyard.
“My son!” Luis Herrera’s mother shouted.
At one point, Herrera’s father came out and told officers the gun was a toy.
The investigations determined that the call that Herrera made to 911 to report the incident of domestic violence, in reality, there had been no family disturbance.
No other people or LAPD officers were reported injured in this incident.
The full investigation into this fatal shooting will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners and the Office of the Inspector General to determine if the use of deadly force complied with LAPD policies and procedures.