John Ashbury
The Press Enterprise
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — Moreno Valley police shot and killed a man Sunday night after they said he charged at them with a weapon and refused to drop it.
Police and firefighters were responding to a 911 call at a home in the 14000 block of Perris Boulevard about 6:20 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 9, Riverside County sheriff’s officials said in a news release.
Authorities tried to reach someone inside several times, but got no answer. Firefighters and police forced their way into the apartment when they heard noise inside and feared a medical emergency, sheriff’s officials said.
Inside the home, one police officer found a man sitting on the couch with a metal object in his hands, which officers thought was a weapon.
Police did not describe the object.
Police ordered the man to drop the object, but he refused and ran into another room. As the officer ran out of the home, the man returned to the living room and started charging toward the officer with the weapon.
Sheriff’s officials said the officer repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon, but he refused.
“Fearing for his safety, the officer fired his duty weapon, striking the subject,” the news release says.
Paramedics declared the man dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. His name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The death is being investigated by the Riverside County sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit. Per department policy, the officer was placed on paid administrative leave. He was not identified. No officers were injured during the confrontation.
Copyright 2012 The Press Enterprise, Inc.