LBPD Officer Responds To Audible WLB Neighborhood Gunshots, Encounters Man Who Points This Paintball Pistol At Officer; Officer Involved Shooting Follows; Suspect Later Says He Was Suicidal

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LBPD Officer Responds To Audible WLB Neighborhood Gunshots, Encounters Man Who Points This Paintball Pistol At Officer; Officer Involved Shooting Follows; Suspect Later Says He Was Suicidal

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(Oct 31, 2021, 10:40 a.m.) -- In a release below, LBPD says an officer responding to 1 a.m. hour gunfire audible in the 1900 block of Harbor Ave. (north of PCH between 710 freeway and Santa Fe Ave., CD 1/Zendejas border of CD 7/Uranga) encountered a man wielding the pistol seen below.

LBPD released image

The pistol turned out to be a paintball pistol and when the suspect allegedly pointed it at the officer, an officer-involved shooting followed, wounding the 28 year old suspect who subsequently acknowledged he was suicidal.

LBPD says all officers were equipped with body worn cameras and it's reviewing the footage. Separate investigations by LBPD and the LA County District Attorney's office (routine in all officer involved shootings that result in injury or death.)

[LBPD release text] On Oct. 31, 2021 at approximately 1:04 a.m., officers were dispatched after gunshots were heard in the 1900 block of Harbor Avenue.
The first arriving officer located a man on the west sidewalk who pointed a weapon in the direction of the officer, that appeared to be a firearm.
An officer drew his duty weapon and fired at the suspect, wounding him.
Officers immediately rendered aid until the Long Beach Fire Department arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to the lower body.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the firearm is a CO2-powered paintball pistol which was recovered at the scene.
The suspect later told officers he was suicidal. All officers were equipped with body worn cameras and the department is in the process of reviewing the footage.
The suspect is identified as a 28-year-old male resident of Long Beach...