Man Shooting Rifle Into Air Is Slain by Officers

A man was shot to death early Friday after he allegedly took the rifle he had been firing into the air and turned it on two El Monte police officers, authorities said.

The incident began with a call to police at 1:42 a.m. saying a man had fired a gun in the 4100 block of Rowland Avenue, a residential area, according to sheriff’s homicide detectives who were assisting El Monte police in the investigation. When they responded, the officers found two men walking north on Rowland.

“One of the men was firing a rifle into the air,” Deputy Roger Hom said. The slaying occurred after the officers told the man to drop the gun and, instead, he turned toward them, authorities said. Arnold Aragon, 25, of El Monte was pronounced dead at the scene. His companion, Albert Trejo, 32, also of El Monte, was detained for questioning.