Police Shooting Caught On Video In Huntington Beach

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — An officer involved shooting at a Huntington Beach 7-Eleven was reported on Friday morning. Graphic video of the event made its way across social media shortly thereafter. The full story has been under investigation by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and both Huntington Beach Police Department and orange county sheriffs suggest that the video clips only tell part of the fatal shooting incident.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. a Huntington Beach Police Officer made contact with a suspect outside of the Edinger Avenue convenience store. The officer struggled with a suspect outside of the convenience store, and then firing multiple times before the suspect collapsed.

Huntington Beach Police Department spokesperson Angela Bennett told reporters that an officer made contact with a male at the 6000 block of Edinger Avenue when they "got into an altercation." A struggle ensued.

The suspect removed something from the officer's belt, as he turned with an object in hand before the officer fired, according to Bennett.

"The officer began to talk to the subject and verbal confrontation began and the subject refused to listen to any commands given by the officer," Bennett said. "As the incident escalated and became physically violent the officer attempted several force options including his Taser which were all ineffective."

The suspect violently attacked and assaulted the officer and the struggle over the officers gun belt ensued. The officer tried to retain his weapon while the suspect continued to grab at the officers belt. When they parted, as seen in the video, the suspect had an unknown object in his hand.

The officer fired multiple rounds before the man fell to the ground. Reports say the suspect was hospitalized with unknown injuries and later died according to police.

"The suspect was struck by gunfire and was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries," Bennett said. "The suspects identity will be released at a later time by the Orange county sheriffs department."

At this time, the Huntington Beach Police Department is aware of the video circling over social media but have said that the videos posted are just a small portion of a very violent confrontation and should not be taken out of context.

" Orange county sheriffs detectives will be reviewing videos and interviewing witnesses from the incident, but those details will not be made available for some time," Bennett said.

The Marina High School, on the 15000 block of Springdale St. near the 7-Eleven, was on precautionary lockdown after the incident. The school tweeted that there were many police patrol cars on scene and that students were safe.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.

Patch News has declined to show the video due to its extreme graphic nature.

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