The Los Angeles Police Department has released more details about a shooting at a public housing project where one of their officers shot a man as he sprinted away from officers while pointing a handgun at them.
The incident began around 5 p.m. on Oct. 7, when two Southeast gang-enforcement officers in uniform arrived at the Imperial Courts Housing Development on patrol, according to an LAPD statement.
The officers encountered three known gang members on foot near 114th and Grape streets. When seeing the officers, a man later identified as 18-year-old James Davis grabbed a nearby female and shoved her toward the officers and ran in the opposite direction.
As the officers gave chase, they noticed that Davis appeared to be grasping at or about his waistband area. The officers feared that Davis was armed, according to the statement.
While attempting to elude the officers, Davis produced a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it back toward the officers. Officer Manuel Castaneda, with 5 1/2 years of service, fired his duty pistol striking Davis, causing him to fall to the ground.
The Los Angeles Times is reporting Castaneda's round struck Davis in the back, which caused community anger. Without discussing the particulars of the case, Capt. Phillip Tingirides told the Times suspects can be struck in the back if they are pointing a gun at officers while running away or if officers are chasing suspects from opposite directions.
Following the shooting, Davis was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. A loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol was recovered at the scene.
LAPD's Force Investigation Division is investigating the officer involved shooting.
