Los Angeles – A California Highway Patrol officer killed A man was shot by a man during an altercation on a closed highway on Sunday, officials said, in a disturbing encounter that appeared to be recorded by a bystander.
The shooting occurred on a stretch of Interstate 105 in the Southern California community of Lynwood, according to a statement from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office is investigating the standoff.
About two dozen motorists called 911 around 3:15 p.m. Sunday to report a man walking on I-105, a major thoroughfare that runs through South Los Angeles communities and ends at Los Angeles International Airport, law enforcement sources said.
The officer, who arrived at the scene around 3:27 p.m., initially tried to remove the man from the highway to no avail, the Highway Patrol said in a news release Monday night. After the Highway Patrol made a traffic stop, the officer approached the man, leading to a scuffle in which the man used a stun gun on the officer, according to the Highway Patrol.
A video circulated on social media shows a highway patrol officer tangling with the man on the sidewalk before the shots rang out. The video shows the man lying on his back, and appears to be trying to grab the officer, while the officer appears to be trying to restrain him.
At some point, the officer appears to punch the man with one hand and then reach for his service weapon with the other hand. As the officer rose, he began shooting at the man at close range, firing several shots as he retreated. The CHP said that the man used a stun gun on the officer and that the officer in turn opened fire out of fear for his safety.
In the video, the man remained motionless on the ground after the shooting, and the officer pointed the gun at him for at least a minute before the video cut off.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office did not immediately release the man’s identity pending notification of his next of kin.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell said in a statement that she welcomed an investigation.
“The video shared of the fatal shooting by a California Highway Patrol officer is deeply saddening and disturbing. I look forward to a full investigation by the California Department of Justice, and offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones who are mourning this tragic loss,” she said.
Andrew Blankstein reported from Los Angeles and David K. Lee is from New York City.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
