California police were investigating a suspicious vehicle after receiving reports before fatally shooting a man who opened fire on them outside a shopping center in Southern California, authorities said.
Unprovoked Gunfire
Police said no officer was hurt during the encounter but said a police car’s windshield was shattered. The incident occurred at around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday in Placentia, officials said.
Authorities said they slowly approached the suspicious vehicle while it was parked behind a closed, vacant business. Shortly after, an unidentified man began shooting at officers who immediately returned fire and hit the suspect.
The man was brought to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, Placentia police Lt. Chris Anderson said. He said that police only discovered the suspect near the vehicle and nobody else was seen in the area, the Associated Press reported.
Police officers’ body-worn cameras activated during the shooting and footage of the incident was sent to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for investigation. Additionally, Placentia police are conducting their own investigation into the case.
