A Los Angeles man who attemped to flag down police for assistance was shot and severely wounded by the officers. The man, who had a towel-wrapped arm, did not have a weapon and was cuffed after the shooting despite an obvious head injury. He is currently in critical condition at a local hospital.
The June 19 incident took place in the early evening on Los Feliz Boulevard and was captured on video by a passerby. Andrew Smith, an LAPD commander, stated that the officers involved followed the correct procedure by handcuffing the man. He had not been searched yet, which made him a suspect. Smith emphasized the investigation had just started, and it was not yet clear why the man had tried to flag down the officers.
Smith further stated that the man was on the shoulder of the road and yelling for the police to help him. The department is currently looking into all scenarios surrounding the incident, including a possibility the man deliberately sought to be killed by the police. The man’s name has not been publically released.
Residents of the Los Feliz neighborhood were surprised at the event as the area is typically quiet and free of crime.