Officials have identified the man who was shot and killed by Los Angeles police officers after he allegedly fled a traffic stop in Pacoima.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Alexander Aguilar-Larios, 21, was shot by officers Tuesday night following a foot pursuit.
Around 9 p.m., police assigned to the Foothill Area gang enforcement detail stopped a BMW sedan for a traffic violation in the area of Lehigh Avenue and Carl Street.
Aguilar-Larios, the passenger, immediately got out of the vehicle and fled the scene, running through a housing development. Police say he was armed with a handgun.
Officers chased after him and at some point, Aguilar-Larios stumbled to the ground.
Details are limited, but a news release issued by the LAPD said the 21-year-old was still holding his firearm when he got back to his feet and attempted to keep fleeing, at which point he was fatally struck by gunfire.
He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and was pronounced deceased, police said. No officers or members of the public were injured.
Few details have been released about the moments preceding the deadly shooting. LAPD officials did not say how many times Aguilar-Larios was shot or how many officers opened fire on him.
They also did not say if Aguilar-Larios pointed a firearm in the direction of officers, but a 9 mm pistol was recovered at the scene.
“The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence,” officials said in Thursday’s news release. “The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed.”
The driver of the BMW also fled on foot but managed to escape. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to contact the LAPD.