Boy, 13, Fatally Shot by Officer

A 13-year-old youth was killed when he put a gun barrel against an officer’s cheek during a struggle in South Los Angeles, police said Saturday.

The shooting occurred about 9:50 p.m. Friday in the 10700 block of South Broadway, and the youth died later at a hospital, Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Lt. Anthony Alba said.

Police on Saturday identified the youth as a resident of South-Central Los Angeles. His name was not available.

Alba gave this account:

Officer Eric Rogers, 27, and his partner had stopped a car for a traffic violation in front of a liquor store at Broadway and 108th Street.

Rogers, an LAPD officer for 3 1/2 years, saw the youth exiting the liquor store, the butt of a gun protruding from his right front pants pocket.

The youth fled, pulling out the pistol. He ran about a block before falling onto the sidewalk.

When Rogers tried to take the gun away, the youth pushed the gun barrel against the officer’s cheek. Fearing he was about to be shot, Rogers fired twice, hitting the youth in the upper body.

“A loaded .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun was recovered at the scene,” Alba said.