Failed to Obey Order to Stop, Police Say : Officer Kills Child-Molestation Suspect

A bare-chested man who apparently tried to sexually molest an 11-year-old Van Nuys boy after knocking the youngster from his bicycle was shot and killed by a Los Angeles police officer, authorities said Sunday.

The man, identified as William Beard, 25, was believed to have been armed and under the influence of drugs when he was shot about 9 p.m. Saturday, said Lt. Charles Higbie of the Police Department’s officer-involved shooting unit. The shooting occurred after a search was begun about 8 p.m. when the boy broke away from his attacker and alerted relatives who called police, Higbie said.

Failed to Obey Commands

Officer Albert Cunningham, 36, an 11-year police veteran, saw Beard perched atop a cement block wall next to an apartment house in the 7100 block of Woodman Avenue in Van Nuys, Higbie said. Cunningham, who was alone, shone his flashlight on Beard. When Beard jumped from the wall and moved rapidly toward him, Cunningham identified himself and repeatedly ordered Beard to stop, Higbie said.

When Beard failed to obey, Cunningham fired four rounds from his service revolver. Beard died instantly from a wound to the chest, Higbie said.

Boys Threatened

The incident that led to the shooting began about 7:45 p.m. when the young victim and a 13-year-old male friend were riding their bicycles in the 13000 block of Vanowen Street, police said. A man suddenly appeared and lunged at the 11-year-old, causing him to fall to the pavement, Higbie said.

When the friend also stopped, Beard allegedly threatened to kill him if he did not leave. After the friend fled, Beard attempted to sexually attack the 11-year-old. The boy, however, managed to escape and run to his nearby home, Higbie said.

After calling police, the boy, his mother, stepfather and uncle got in a car and went in search of the attacker, Higbie said. A short time later, the boy spotted Beard walking near Woodman Avenue and Gault Street. The boy’s stepfather and uncle struggled with Beard, who resisted their attempt to capture him by indicating that he had a weapon, Higbie said. Beard then ran to the apartment house and tried to force his way into one apartment before jumping to the ground from the building’s second story and fleeing on foot, Higbie said.

Cunningham, who responded to a call that a juvenile had possibly been molested, was told by the 11-year-old’s relatives, who were not named, that Beard “was extremely strong,” Higbie said. At various times, the uncle and stepfather told police, Beard “uttered animalistic sounds to the extent that they thought he was under the influence of drugs or mentally disturbed,” Higbie said.

First Search In Vain

Officers called to the scene to assist Cunningham had combed the area but failed to find a suspect, Higbie said. They had abandoned the search and returned to their regular patrols, when Cunningham, after preparing a report on the incident, decided to walk the apartment house grounds one more time. He then spotted Beard, Higbie said.

Cunningham again requested assistance before shooting Beard, Higbie said.

The names of the two boys were withheld because of their ages. An investigation into the shooting is being conducted under the direction of Capt. Arthur Sjoquist, Higbie said.