Luis Herrera: Teen wielding airsoft gun shot dead by cop after dialing 911 to report drunk dad beating mom
Warning: Content may be distressing, readers' discretion advised
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A teenager was fatally shot and killed by an officer while brandishing a toy rifle outside of his home, according to a video released by the LAPD. The incident occurred in front of the teenager's mother, who was screaming. Nineteen-year-old Luis Herrera was shot on September 17 after repeatedly dialing 911 to request police be sent to his family's residence on the grounds that his father was intoxicated and beating his mother and him.
Two LAPD Southeast Division officers arrived at Herrera's home in the 400 block of West 102nd Street at around 1.20 pm to investigate a domestic violence call. As per the press release from the Los Angeles Police Department, Herrera, who was completely in black, appeared from the front door carrying "what appeared to be a black rifle." The newly released video shows the officers hiding among the garbage cans on the side of the house yelling, "Put that down, put that down," and "let go of that gun."
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In the video, officers tell Herrera repeatedly to drop what appears to be a weapon before starting to shoot him. The teen is seen falling to the ground and dropping the weapon and appears to be moving but disabled. When the rifle was examined more closely, it was discovered to be an airsoft gun, a toy that fires plastic BBs.
The press release said, "Herrera shouldered the rifle and pointed it at the officers, resulting in an officer-involved shooting." Off-camera, Herrera's mother began screaming in agony, "That's my son!" as an officer repeatedly told the teenager to drop the weapon. Herrera was handcuffed and heavily bleeding when he was later declared dead on the spot.
An investigation revealed that, contrary to what Herrera stated on the 911 calls, there was no indication of domestic abuse between her parents. Luis Navarrete, the officer who fired the shots that killed Herrera, has been identified. He has been placed on administrative leave while the LAPD's Force Investigation Division conducts an investigation.
"We also do not draw any conclusions about whether the officers acted consistent with our policies and the law until all of the facts are known and the investigation is complete,' LAPD spokesperson Captain Kelly Muniz says in the video.