Police shoot dead armed man at LA gas station after officers spotted him 'threatening four people with a gun' as they were driving past

A man with a gun was fatally shot by police outside a gas station in South Los Angeles on Wednesday night, moments after the suspect reportedly threatened a group of people with the weapon.

The incident began at around 9:50pm when LAPD officers were driving by the 76 gas station near the intersection of West 111th and South Figueroa streets in the Vermont Vista neighborhood.

According to the department, as they were passing, the officers saw a man walk up to a group of four people stood in the gas station’s parking area and point a gun at them.

Officers reportedly instructed the suspect to stop and drop the weapon but the man did not cooperate.

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The incident began at around 9:50pm when LAPD officers were driving by the 76 gas station near the intersection of West 111th and South Figueroa streets in the Vermont Vista neighborhood

According to the department, as they were passing, the officers saw a man walk up to a group of four people stood in the gas station’s parking area and point a gun at them (pictured: A white tent is seen where the suspect lay dead)

At least one of the officers then opened fire, Los Angeles Police Department Detective Meghan Aguilar said.

The suspect was struck by gunfire and was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not yet been identified.

Police said it did not appear as if the suspect had fired his weapon. No officers were hurt in the incident.

The source of the initial altercation between the man and the group is not immediately clear.

Investigators say the man may have been attempting an armed robbery, but they have been unable to confirm.

‘You know, it’s still a little bit early to say what exactly the motive was,’ Aguilar told CBSLA. ‘Obviously, that’s going to be a part of interviewing the individuals, what was said. What we do know is that these officers tonight, were absolutely for those individuals, in the right place at the right time.’

Investigators are looking into whether security video from the gas station captured footage of the shooting. Police body camera footage is also being reviewed.

It’s currently unclear how many officers shot at the suspect. 

The LAPD is required to release any bodycam evidence of the shooting within 45 days.

Police said it did not appear as if the suspect had fired his weapon. No officers were hurt in the incident

Investigators are looking into whether security video from the gas station captured footage of the shooting. Police body camera footage is also being reviewed 

Around a dozen people showed up to protest the police shooting late Wednesday.

Video captured by KTLA 5 showed several of the protesters intentionally crossing over a police line.

A scuffle ensued between officers and the group. Police responded by detaining a number of the demonstrators. 

Ultimately seven people were arrested, LAPD told DailyMail.com, and one officer sustained an injury to their hand which required stitches. 

The police shooting outside the 76 gas station was one of two in the Vermont Vista neighborhood within the space of a few hours.

The second shooting occurred at around 4am, when a man was shot by LA County deputies less than a mile away, in the area of 108th Street and Vermont Avenue in Westmont. The man’s condition is not known.

Around a dozen people showed up to protest the police shooting late Wednesday, prompting a scuffle to break out with officers

Ultimately seven people were arrested, LAPD told DailyMail.com, and one officer sustained an injury to their hand which required stitches.

A fatal shooting also occurred at a different South LA gas station just after midnight, where a gunman opened fire and shot dead a man in the 6300 block of South Figueroa Street. The gunman remains at large.

There was no word on a motive in the shooting or whether it was gang-related. There was no immediate description of the suspect.

Police haven’t specified whether they believe any of the three incidents are related.

The LAPD has not yet responded to a DailyMail.com request for comment on the matter.