BOYLE HEIGHTS — A man who was shot and killed by police after barricading himself in a vehicle was holding an automatic BB Airsoft rifle capable of firing metallic projectiles, which he raised at officers, authorities said.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollenbeck Division responded around 8:30 a.m. July 14 to a call regarding a man with a gun in the area of Spence and Eighth streets, according to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman.
According to the LAPD, the comments of the call described the suspect and stated he was holding a “possible assault rifle.”
The suspected gunman, identified as 26-year-old Jeremy Flores, was in the driver’s seat of a white utility van parked to the rear of 1200 Spence St. and holding a rifle, police said. Flores was ordered to get out of the van and drop the weapon but he refused to follow commands, raised the rifle and the officers opened fire on Flores, they added.
After he was shot, Flores continued to refuse to exit the van and a SWAT team was called to the scene.
“After unsuccessful attempts to gain compliance, SWAT officers, along with a tactical emergency medical support unit from the Los Angeles Fire Department, approached the vehicle,” police said July 15.
Flores, who was described as “unresponsive and still holding the rifle,” sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and personnel from the tactical emergency medical support unit determined he was dead.
According to the LAPD, the rifle recovered from Flores’ hands was an MP5-style, automatic BB Airsoft rifle, capable of firing metallic projectiles. It was booked as evidence.
No officers were injured.
The department’s Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and is conducting the investigation.
Family members and friends of Flores held a vigil the day after the shooting.
