Video shows moments before LBPD officer fatally shoots 17-year-old home invasion robbery suspect
Police say they were called to a home in the 6800 block of Cerritos Avenue just before 10 p.m. after a woman called to report that a man with a gun had broken into her home.
A video released Wednesday shows the lead-up to a Long Beach police officer shooting and killing a 17-year-old boy suspected of a home invasion robbery on April 26.
Police say they were called to a home in the 6800 block of Cerritos Avenue just before 10 p.m. after a woman called to report that a man with a gun had broken into her home.
"He opened the door and got inside," the panicked woman can be heard telling the 911 dispatchers.
Security camera footage from the scene shows who police say is a 17-year-old San Bernardino boy, wearing a black mask, hat shirt, and khaki pants wielding a crowbar as he approaches the home in the 6800 block of Cerritos Avenue.
The suspect apparently tries to disable a Ring camera before using the crowbar to break into the home, the video shows.
Body-camera footage from responding officers shows when they located the suspect in the backyard.
"I have a gun," the suspect can be heard faintly saying in the background.
"Put down the gun," the officer tells the suspect.
"F**k no," the suspect replies.
The victims were eventually evacuated from the home, while officers and negotiators spent roughly an hour and a half trying to get the teenager to surrender, police said.
But that's when, according to police, the teenager tells the officers that he's either going to kill himself or get them to do it.
Though body camera footage does not capture the audio where police say he threatens to kill himself, an officer can be heard saying: "He's got a gun pointed at his head right now."
"Hey relax, point that thing down man, we want to talk to you," an officer says. "We're not here to hurt you we don't want to hurt you, put it down on the ground brother."
"You're not in trouble right now, just relax," an officer says on the video. "Just put that thing down."
At some point, according to police, the teenager began making demands, including asking for a water bottle.
An officer can be seen on body-camera footage throwing the water bottle toward the house.
"I held up my end of the bargain, you gave me your word," he tells the suspect.
The video does not show whether the suspect puts the gun down at any point.
But a negotiator can only be heard off-camera telling the suspect that she can help him.
She can then be heard telling him "do not pick up that gun" just moments before a single shot can be heard on-camera.
"Who was that, who was that?" someone can be heard yelling on the video.
"That was me," an officer responds on the video. "He pointed the gun at me."
Officers can be seen going through the house and approaching the wounded 17-year-old. They place him in handcuffs before tending to his injuries.
"Watch out for the gun," the officers can be heard saying.
Despite efforts by officer and Long Beach Fire Department personnel, the 17-year-old died from his injuries at the hospital, police said. His identity was not released by the LBPD.
Nobody else was injured, and police discovered only after the shooting that the gun the 17-year-old had was a replica, which couldn't be fired or loaded with live rounds.
A second suspect who fled before police arrived, was later arrested, authorities said. He was identified as 18-year-old Modesto resident Iskay Mota, police said. He was taken into custody May 1 on suspicion of robbery and his bail was set at $100,000, police said.
The California Department of Justice is investigating the shooting to determine whether the officer's actions were within protocol.
