Armed home invasion suspect killed by police after standoff in Long Beach
An armed home invader was shot and killed by police after a standoff in Long Beach Friday night, authorities said.
The home invasion occurred at a residence in the 6800 block of Cerritos Avenue near 68th Street around 8:30 p.m., preliminary information indicates.
A man inside the home had called 911 to report the male suspect breaking in before he was confronted by the suspect, who brandished a weapon and ordered him to give him his belongings.
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“I saw him open the door, point a gun at me and basically ask for everything I had,” victim Joseph Lopez said. “I went to a [different] room, called the cops and jumped out of the window.”
When police arrived at the scene, they learned that the man was still in the home’s yard armed with a firearm. Officers immediately surrounded the house and made verbal contact with the intruder, who refused to comply with demands to surrender for over an hour.
According to law enforcement officials, SWAT team resources were preparing to deploy when the officer-involved shooting occurred.
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The suspect was struck once in the upper body; officers rendered aid at the scene before the suspect was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Officers later recovered a replica firearm at the scene, Long Beach police confirmed to KTLA.
A woman who lives nearby told KTLA 5’s Carlos Herrera that the home invasion comes as quite a shock to the usually quiet neighborhood.
“I’m scared, and last night I couldn’t sleep,” said Belques Martinez. “The fact that someone broke in…it’s like your peace is broken.”
The suspect has not yet been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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