Lomita Man ID'd In Wilmington Police Shooting

WILMINGTON, CA — Authorities Friday identified a man -- who may have been in possession of what police said was a "toy gun" — killed in an officer-involved shooting in Wilmington.

The shooting occurred about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday at Wilmington Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Eric Rivera, 20, of Lomita died at the scene, coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said.

Officers were sent to the location on a report of a man with a gun, the LAPD reported.

"When the officers arrived in the area, they observed a lone male ... (and) believing this may be the suspect from the radio call, they directed their attention toward him," a police statement said.

"At that time, there was an officer involved shooting," police said. "Several shots were fired, and the suspect was struck and fell to the ground. The police officers' vehicle traveled forward, striking the male and pinning him underneath it."

Paramedics pronounced Rivera dead at the scene. One officer was injured, apparently while getting out of the patrol car, and was treated at a hospital and released.

"During the preliminary investigation, detectives interviewed witnesses who told detectives in the minutes leading up to the officer-involved shooting they saw the male ... with a handgun," police said. "A toy gun was found at the scene and was recovered by detectives."

The circumstances of the shooting were under investigation. Anyone with information on the case was urged to call (877) LAPD-247.

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock