Los Angeles Police Department officers shot a man experiencing a mental-health crisis in Echo Park Monday afternoon.
Just before 4 p.m., Hector Alaniz’s mother called police to “report that her son was suffering from mental illness and may be a danger to others,” police said in a news release.
When officers arrived to the 2400 block of Bellevue Avenue, they found Alaniz and told him to surrender, though he “instead fled the location, leading officers on a short foot pursuit eastbound Bellevue Avenue from Coronado Street,” police said.
Officers saw that he had what appeared to be a black pistol, and as he entered a driveway, he pointed the gun at officers, prompting the use of a 40 mm less-lethal launcher and at least one officer to open fire, police said.
“Despite the suspect being struck by both gunfire and 40mm [less-lethal] projectiles, he again continued to flee until an officer discharged a TASER, incapacitating Alaniz, allowing officers to take him into custody without further incident,” police said.
Alaniz was treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound to his right arm, and police say they located a black airsoft gun that looks like a Glock pistol at the scene.
