A man armed with a tree-trimming pole saw fitted with a 12-inch blade was shot and killed by Los Angeles police Monday after authorities said he advanced toward officers on a Boyle Heights street.
LAPD officers were first called to the area of Gillette and Bridge streets at about 9:55 a.m. following a report of a man carrying a metal pipe, police said.
When officers reached the scene, they encountered the suspect holding a large pole saw with a serrated blade measuring about a foot long attached to the end, according to the department.
“He failed to comply with orders to drop the pole and continued advancing towards officers,” the LAPD said in a statement.
One officer opened fire, striking the unidentified man. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said officers rendered medical aid to the suspect at the scene until paramedics arrived.
No officers or bystanders were injured, the LAPD said. Investigators recovered the tree trimmer as evidence.
The fatal police shooting remains under investigation.
