LAPD officers shoot man wielding item they thought resembled a rifle during standoff
A suspect in an hours-long standoff with Los Angeles police was shot by officers while holding large plastic object that they thought resembled a rifle, authorities said.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department‘s 77th Division responded around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday to a radio call regarding a man with a rifle who was allegedly pointing it at passersby on the 6400 block of Figueroa Street in the Vermont-Slauson neighborhood, according to the LAPD.
The suspect, identified as Keyon Williams, refused to comply with officers’ commands, instead barricading himself in a second-floor apartment, according to the department. When a SWAT team responded to the scene, Williams allegedly pointed the plastic item at those officers, prompting the shooting.
Williams suffered a gunshot wound to the wrist and was taken into custody shortly after 1:30 a.m. Thursday before being taken to a hospital, police said. No officers were injured.
Williams was booked for suspicion of resisting arrest, a so-called “wobbler” offense, which can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on the circumstances and prosecutorial discretion. The sheriff’s inmate locator contained no information about Williams being jailed following the shooting.
Officers clearing the residence arrested one additional occupant for suspicion of resisting arrest, and another was questioned and released. The shooting investigation continued, police said.