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Man shot dead after he pointed 'cigarette lighter' that looked like a gun at LAPD cops

The LAPD has come under fire after people on the Internet realized that the 'replica gun' was actually a cigarette lighter

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES: A man was shot dead after he pointed a replica gun at police officers at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, July 15. Los Angeles Police Department HQ revealed the details of the "officer-involved shooting" through their official Twitter handle. They also released a couple of photos from the incident; the department has come under fire after people on the Internet realized that the "replica gun" was a cigarette lighter. 

LAPD responded to multiple calls about an armed man at the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard at 11:20 am, reports said.

"The comments of the radio call indicated it was a male white armed with a handgun walking on Hollywood Blvd," one of their tweets read. In the following tweets, they revealed officers saw a male matching the description and was armed with a "handgun" and he was shot by an officer. "At that time there was an officer-involved shooting. The man was struck by gunfire and transported to a local hospital where he has died," the tweet said.

In related news, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot dead by officer Kim Potter who claimed he meant to use a taser on the victim but mistakenly drew her gun instead. 

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'It was a cigarette lighter not a gun' 

In the next tweet the department said there was no gun but a replica of it instead and no officers were injured in the shooting. A female present at the location at the time of the incident sustained an injury and was transported to the local hospital. They also said that Force Investigation Division (FID) was called on the scene to interview witnesses and people who may be the victims of assaults by the suspect. A couple of hours later, LAPD HQ released photographs related to the "officer-involved shooting" taken by investigators on the scene which show the man who was shot pointing what appeared to be a weapon directly at the officers. A knife was also found on the scene, according to the photos. The department has since come under fire as people on the Internet claim that the "replica gun" is a cigarette lighter instead. 

"There is a replica handgun at scene. No officers were injured. A female who was nearby was transported to a local hospital for an injury sustained during the incident. FID Detectives are interviewing witnesses and people who may be the victims of assaults by the suspect," a tweet read. "Investigators have released the following images related to today's officer-involved shooting in Hollywood," read the final tweet after which people started to claim that the man was shot for holding a cigarette lighter. 

"Crazy how quick you release the pics when you think they exonerate you," tweeted an angry user once pictures and details of the incident were released. "Please, say it honestly. It is not an 'officer involved shooting'. Repeat after me: 'Officer [Insert Name/Badge # Here] fired upon and shot [Insert Victim Name Here]'" read another tweet. "It was a cigarette lighter, not a gun," read another tweet. "Costco pocket knife & gas station lighter enuff to get you shot on arrival on Hollywood Blvd, across from the famous HOLLYWOOD CHINESE THEATER!" another angry user wrote.