Santa Ana officers shoot, kill man holding fake rifle

Lily Dallow
·2 min read
3

Two officers with the Santa Ana Police Department shot and killed a man who was believed to be holding a loaded rifle on Sunday evening, officials say.

However, police confirmed the rifle was later identified to be a fake.

According to the department, officers received calls around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday about a man armed with a rifle and loading it in the area of Broadway and 2nd Street.

Then at 6:22 p.m., SAPD issued a notice on X, formerly Twitter, alerting the public to stay clear of police activity in the same area.

Police say two officers came close to the suspect and shot him.

After the shooting took place, officials say the man was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

ADVERTISEMENT

The department identified the suspect as a man in his early 30s, but did not immediately provide a name or known place of residence.

The rifle was then taken in by police, who later identified it to be a fake.

  • Bullet holes are seen in the wall behind officials investigating where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
    Bullet holes are seen in the wall behind officials investigating where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
  • Bullet holes are seen in the wall behind officials investigating where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
    Bullet holes are seen in the wall behind officials investigating where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
  • Officials are seen here investigating the scene where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
    Officials are seen here investigating the scene where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
  • Officials are seen here investigating the scene where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
    Officials are seen here investigating the scene where a Santa Ana Police officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
  • Santa Ana Police are seen here investigating the scene where an officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
    Santa Ana Police are seen here investigating the scene where an officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
  • Santa Ana Police are seen here at the scene where an officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
    Santa Ana Police are seen here at the scene where an officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
  • Santa Ana Police are seen here at the scene where an officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)
    Santa Ana Police are seen here at the scene where an officer fatally shot a man they believed was holding a loaded rifle, and later found it to be a fake. December 2024. (KTLA)

Details are limited, police did not immediately provide further information on what transpired between the officers and suspect before the shooting, or if the suspect was considered dangerous to the public.

There were no reports of any other officers or bystanders being injured during this incident, according to SAPD.

The department says the investigation is ongoing and will provide more details later on.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.