HAWTHORNE : Police Kill Bar Patron Who Refused to Drop Gun
Hawthorne police shot and killed a man in a bar who had allegedly pointed a gun at an officer early Tuesday.
Jose Rivera, 19, of Inglewood died of a chest wound at Anna’s Bar in the 14000 block of Inglewood Avenue, sheriff’s spokesman Gabe Ramirez said.
A bartender called 911 because Rivera and Miguel Villalpando, 30, were waving a gun and demanding free beer, Ramirez said. Officer James Wade, 29, and Sgt. John Sanders, 46, responded.
Rivera emerged from a restroom, pointing a nine-shot, .22-caliber revolver, officials said. Wade ordered Rivera to drop the gun, in both English and Spanish, and fired once when he continued pointing it, Ramirez said. Officers later found that Rivera’s gun was not loaded. Villalpando was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. He was being held at Hawthorne jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
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