A man stole merchandise from a Target store in El Monte, returned and brandished a firearm at an employee, took off in a car for a short pursuit and was shot and killed by at least one El Monte police officer Monday night, Dec. 16, authorities said.
What specifically led the officer, or officers, to shoot was not immediately known. A firearm was found at the scene, Lt. Steve De Jong of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, told OnScene TV, a freelance news network that sometimes works with the Southern California News Group.
A female passenger was detained for questioning, De Jong said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department took over the investigation.
At about 8:45 a.m., El Monte police officers responded to the Target store in the 3600 block of Peck Road on a report of theft and a possible disturbance, De Jong said. While en route, the call was updated: An individual had brandished a gun.
De Jong said the pair were caught trying to steal items, told to return the merchandise and leave the store, which they did before the man returned, argued with the employee and then displayed the gun.
“They had already been told to leave,” De Jong said. “They returned the merchandise, the male returned, and there was some sort of altercation with (a) loss-prevention (employee). He somehow made it back inside the store when he was told to leave, and that’s when he brandished the firearm.”
The first arriving officer found the suspect leaving the parking lot in a car, De Jong said. A short pursuit ensued, ending near Tyler Avenue and Valley Boulevard, where the man got out and ran.
Officers caught up to him and that’s when the shots were fired, De Jong said.
The suspect, described as a man possibly in his 30s, died at the scene, De Jong said. He was not publicly identified, pending notification of his relatives.