Deputy Kills Motorist Who Grabbed at Gun
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy shot a motorist to death in Lancaster after the motorist--apparently under the influence of alcohol--grabbed at the deputy’s gun and charged the deputy repeatedly, even after the officer had opened fire, investigators reported Saturday.
The incident began about 9:55 p.m. Friday, when Robert Moriya, 19, of Lancaster, drove his car into a freeway support near 20th Street West and West Avenue J-8, according to Deputy Bill Wehner.
Wehner said that shortly after paramedics had happened by and determined that Moriya was uninjured, Deputy Terry Rice, 36, a 14-year veteran, responded to their call and began to question Moriya about the accident.
Began Screaming
Moriya, who admitted he had recently drunk “a lot of beer and sake,” suddenly began screaming “and leaped at the deputy, grabbing for his holstered gun,” Wehner said.
The deputy said that when Rice backed away, Moriya charged him. Rice fired two rounds; Moriya fell to the ground, got up and charged again; Rice fired two more rounds; Moriya fell again, got up and charged once more, and Rice fired the round that killed Moriya. Wehner said it was not immediately reported how many of the rounds struck Moriya.
Several passers-by stopped and witnessed the incident, Wehner said.
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