There is outrage in the Los Angeles area of US after police shot dead another black man.
The man has been identified as 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee. He was riding his bicycle when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies tried to stop him for an unspecified vehicle code violation on Monday afternoon.
He fled on foot, and when officers caught up with him he punched one deputy in the face, dropping some items of clothing he was carrying, police said.
“The deputies noticed that inside the clothing items that he dropped was a black semi-automatic handgun, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred, ”
Lieutenant Brandon Dean told reporters.
It was not clear if the man was reaching for the gun when he was shot. Dean said officials had yet to interview the deputies involved.
“So, he did not have the gun in his hand, it had already dropped to the ground, so when he was actually shot, he was unarmed at that point?” a reporter asked during the televised press conference.
“I don’t know that,” Dean replied, adding later, “If this individual was reaching for a semi-automatic handgun, I would suggest … that’s probably why deadly force was employed.”
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Up to 100 people gathered at the scene demanding justice in the hours after the shooting, according to local media.
A pretty large crowd is gathered at 109th and Budlong, the scene of a deadly deputy involved shooting today @BLMLA has called people to come out. Several @LASDHQ deputies are holding a line in front of the group as investigation continues. The latest on @CBSLA and #KCAL9 pic.twitter.com/1cVwVatrDC
— Lesley Marin (@lesleymarin) September 1, 2020
Protesters are gathered in Westmont where deputies shot and killed a Black man https://t.co/CWrERcUGoW pic.twitter.com/XlTkdwjSDk
— KTLA (@KTLA) September 1, 2020