Police Fatally Shoot Rifle-Toting Car Theft Suspect In Torrance

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Torrance police officers shot and killed an armed car theft suspect in a parking lot Sunday when they approached the vehicle, authorities said.

The shooting was reported about 8 p.m. in the Ralphs supermarket parking lot located at 1770 Carson St. in Torrance, Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris said.

The officers were on patrol at 7:53 p.m. in the area of 220th Street and Western Avenue when they were flagged down by a man who explained his vehicle was stolen two days earlier, and he observed his car being driven in the area of Carson Street and Western Avenue, Harris said. Officers were able to locate the vehicle in the Ralphs parking lot, he 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," Harris said.

The officers performed life-saving measures on the suspect but he died at the scene, he said. The suspect's name was not released pending notification of kin. No officers were hurt.

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

City News Service contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock