A Gardena police officer shot and killed a man Friday night after the man opened fire at law enforcement during a traffic stop, according to the Gardena Police Department.
The shooting happened after an officer performed a traffic stop on a driver just after 11 p.m. Friday on the 2100 block of West Rosecrans Avenue. Police said the officer noticed a firearm within the driver’s reach and made multiple commands to the man to not reach for the weapon.
Gardena police said the man ignored those commands, exited the vehicle armed with the firearm and fired at officers. Officers then fired back and struck the man, officials said.
Emergency aid was rendered to the man by officers and then by paramedics after they arrived. The man was then taken to a nearby hospital, where he died of his injuries. A handgun was recovered at the scene.
Police did not release the name of the man who was killed nor of the officer who shot him. The investigation remains ongoing.