Off-Duty Officer Shoots Transient to Death
An off-duty Culver City police officer shot and killed a transient who allegedly was threatening him with a belt early Wednesday in Hollywood, police said.
The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. in an underground garage on Hollywood Boulevard at North Sycamore Avenue, said Los Angeles Police Lt. Joseph Garcia.
The Culver City officer, a 12-year veteran who was not otherwise identified, was returning to his parked vehicle when the transient tried to assault him with a belt that had a “large buckle,”, according to Garcia. The officer, “repeatedly tried to avoid the unprovoked attack,” said Garcia, before he drew his gun and fired once, striking the transient in the upper torso.
The wounded man was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. His name was withheld pending notification of relatives. The case will be investigated by LAPD detectives.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
