Man Fatally Wounded by Officers in South Gate is Identified

A man who fled from police officers and was killed in an officer-involved shooting in South Gate was identified today as 24-year- old Jimmy Cruz of South Gate.

The shooting occurred at 10:08 p.m. Saturday in the 9200 block of San Luis Avenue, said Deputy Kim Manatt of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Police were dispatched to the scene on a 911 call of a man and a woman fighting, with additional information indicating the man was possibly armed, said Sgt. Pauline Panis of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Cruz was uncooperative and failed to respond to officers' directions, running away while continually grasping at his waistband area, Panis said.

Cruz suddenly turned back toward officers. Fearing he had armed himself, an officer-involved shooting occurred. A weapon was recovered from the suspect, Panis said.

Paramedics rushed him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, Panis said.

-- City News Service