Video shows LAPD shoot, kill homeless man in Skid Row
Caught in dramatic footage, Los Angeles police shot and killed a man in Skid Row on Sunday.
The video posted on Facebook (WARNING: graphic) shows a group of officers in a confrontation with the man, who witnesses identified only as “Africa,” about noon, according to Los Angeles Times.
The man appears to be struggling with four officers, even after he is on the ground. An officer is heard yelling “drop the gun” twice.
One of the officers then opens fire on the man and a total of five gunshots are heard in the video.
One witness told the Los Angeles Times Africa was fighting with someone in his tent on Skid Row when police were called, and was tased when he refused to comply with directions to come out.
Another witness said a police officer yelled that Africa had grabbed his gun.
A local woman said he began living in Skid Row four months before and said he told her he was released from a mental facility after 10 years.
Africa, who has not been formally identified by police, was declared dead at a hospital shortly after the shooting.
Los Angeles Times reported other witnesses gave conflicting statements to police, and no officers were injured in the altercation.
Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva
