Witness to Killing Critical of Police Use of Force : Crime: Montrose resident says his troubled neighbor did not pose enough of a threat to warrant the shooting.

As Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials identified the two deputies who shot and killed a Montrose man, a resident who confronted the victim minutes before he died said Wednesday that he hoped the deputies are prosecuted for using unnecessary force.

Deputies Greg J. Gabriel, 38, and Paul P. Dino, 37, both nine-year veterans, shot and killed Aaron Cease early Sunday morning after they were unable to control the 30-year-old man, who was running around the neighborhood screaming and swinging a broken metal crutch.

Investigators said Cease had been screaming that he would kill the deputies, and when the man came within striking distance they shot him. Both deputies have been reassigned temporarily to desk duty.

“The Sheriff’s Department homicide bureau is investigating the matter,” Deputy George Ducoulombier said. “The shooting remains under investigation.”

But resident Paul Visket, who confronted Cease in the 2500 block of Montrose Avenue and called deputies to the scene, said the man did not appear to pose enough of a threat to warrant the shooting.

“I figured let the sheriffs handle it, they’re the professionals, and they ended up killing the guy,” said Visket, his voice shaking with emotion. “If I’d have known they were going to use lethal force I’d have gone out there in my boxer shorts, unarmed (to stop Cease) if it would have saved his life.”

Cease’s howling woke Visket just before midnight. After the 38-year-old threw on some clothes and went outside, he said he saw Cease swinging a broken crutch on the grass outside his apartment complex.

Visket said Cease did not look dangerous and that he stumbled about as if hurt. Visket said Cease did not seem particularly strong. “I own a handgun,” Visket said. “I didn’t take the handgun. I took a golf club because I figured that’s all I need to subdue this guy.

“He was yelling at me ‘I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!’ ” Visket said. “But there was no way the guy could have killed me.” Visket said he feared nothing more than a cut that might require a few stitches.

Visket said he took the golf club outside with him so he could parry Cease if the man got too close to Visket’s pickup truck or his mother’s car. But Visket said Cease wandered on down the block, so he went inside and called police.

Two blocks further down Montrose Avenue, the two deputies caught up with Cease, who refused to stop when ordered, sheriff’s officials said. Witnesses said the two deputies shot at Cease 12 times.