A Bakersfield, CA, police officer responding to a call about a man brandishing a firearm shot and killed a 73-year-old retiree early Monday when the man, who reportedly was affected by dementia, ignored officer commands to remove his hands from his jacket.

"During a search of Mr. [Francisco] Serna a dark-colored simulated woodgrain crucifix was recovered," read a statement from the Bakersfield Police Department. "Mr. Serna was not armed at the time of the shooting. No firearm has been recovered."

Serna has never carried a gun and was opposed to firearms, Serna's son, Frank Serna, told KGET. "I don't know what led police to believe he had a gun," Frank Serna said.

Police said the events unfolded about 12:35 a.m. Monday. A neighbor arrived home as a passenger in a friend's car and as she exited the car, she noticed Serna standing behind her with his right hand "concealed inside his jacket," the police statement read.

The neighbor told police that Serna "began questioning her about living in the neighborhood and demanded she open the car door so he could look inside."

The neighbor told police she saw "a dark brown or black handled object that she believed was a gun" inside Serna's jacket.

The neighbor's friend unlocked her car door and Serna began looking inside the car. At that point, the neighbor ran to her house and told her husband to call the police because there was a man outside with a gun, police said.

Several officers responded, USA Today reports.