Man was Armed with Handgun
By Stephen Hadland
Observer Publisher
On Saturday at approximately 7:40 am a suspect entered the secure parking lot at the Culver City Police Department Headquarters on Duquesne Avenue. He apparently followed a Culver City Police vehicle that was entering the facility.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Culver City police officers asked the suspect if he needed help. The suspect then produced a handgun. The officers ordered him to drop the gun. The suspect refused and pointed the gun at the officers. Fearing for their safety, two officers fired their weapons, striking the suspect once in the upper torso.
The suspect was transported to an area hospital where he later died. He has not been identified.
Neighbors report hearing five shots being fired, however Sheriff’s Department officials have not yet confirmed that information.
Police closed Duquesne Avenue from Culver Boulevard to Braddock Drive during the investigation.
Two Culver City officers noticed a man walk in behind them as they passed through a security gate to enter the department's parking lot.
"We have no idea why he had walked into the parking lot of the police station," said LA Sheriff's Sergeant Rich Peña, "If he had a legitimate complaint or wanted to make a call for service or something like that, you would go to the regular 24-hour desk. You usually wouldn't follow a police cruiser in through a secured area."
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide detectives are continuing to assist Culver City Police Department personnel investigate the circumstances surrounding a Culver City Police Department officer-involved. Detectives have learned that Culver City officers were in the parking lot of the Culver City Police Department at the end of their shift, when they saw the suspect walk into the facility through the facility's parking lot security gate.
No officers were injured in the shooting.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Portions of this story came from a police department press release)
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