Authorities ID Man Fatally Shot By Torrance Police

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Authorities identified a man Tuesday who was toting a rifle and sitting in a car that was reported stolen when he was shot to death by Torrance police officers in a supermarket parking lot.

The shooting occurred about 8 p.m. Sunday in the Ralphs parking lot at 1770 Carson St., Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris said.

Christopher Mitchell, 23, of Los Angeles died at the scene, the coroner's office reported.

According to Harris, officers were on patrol about 7:25 p.m. Sunday near 220th Street and Western Avenue when they were flagged down by a man who told them his vehicle was stolen two days earlier and he saw it being driven near Carson Street and Western Avenue.

The officers located the vehicle in the Ralphs lot, Harris said.

"Upon approaching the vehicle to conduct their investigation, officers were met by an adult male who was armed with a rifle, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred," the sergeant said.

The officers performed life-saving measures on the wounded man, but he died on site, Harris said.

The Special Operations Bureau of the Torrance Police Department and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting, Harris said.

Related >> Police Fatally Shoot Rifle-Toting Car Theft Suspect In Torrance

City News Service contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock