Investigators examine the scene where Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man Saturday night in Lancaster. (KTLA-TV) |
LANCASTER, Calif. (KTLA) -- Sheriff's detectives investigating the shooting death of a man Saturday by deputies have not found the weapon the deputies thought the man was reaching for when they shot him.
The shooting happened around 10:55 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of 10th Street West and Avenue J-4.
Two deputies approached Christian Cobian, 26, because he did not have a light on his bicycle.
Cobian ignored the deputies' commands to stop, abandoned his bicycle and began running.
The deputies chased Cobian for a short distance before he allegedly reached for his waistband. That's when at least one of the deputies opened fire, hitting Cobian.
Paramedics pronounced Cobian dead at the scene.
No deputies were injured in the incident.
Sheriff's officials said Cobian, a gang member in Inglewood, was wanted on a felony narcotics warrant.
He was on probation for receiving stolen property and had three previous felony convictions.
Cobian's family says he was not looking for any trouble and had attended a family party earlier that night celebrating the baptism of his niece and nephew.
Relatives say they recently moved to Lancaster from Inglewood to get away from crime and gangs.
The shooting remains under investigation. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will determine if the shooting was justified.
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris issued a statement Monday on behalf of the city council, supporting the deputies in the shooting.
"The deputies involved in this incident and their families have the full support of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and City Council Members during this extremely difficult time when they will inevitably be second guessed by those who have never had to risk their lives while protecting the hard working families of our community," Parris wrote.
The shooting happened around 10:55 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of 10th Street West and Avenue J-4.
Two deputies approached Christian Cobian, 26, because he did not have a light on his bicycle.
Cobian ignored the deputies' commands to stop, abandoned his bicycle and began running.
The deputies chased Cobian for a short distance before he allegedly reached for his waistband. That's when at least one of the deputies opened fire, hitting Cobian.
Paramedics pronounced Cobian dead at the scene.
No deputies were injured in the incident.
Sheriff's officials said Cobian, a gang member in Inglewood, was wanted on a felony narcotics warrant.
He was on probation for receiving stolen property and had three previous felony convictions.
Cobian's family says he was not looking for any trouble and had attended a family party earlier that night celebrating the baptism of his niece and nephew.
Relatives say they recently moved to Lancaster from Inglewood to get away from crime and gangs.
The shooting remains under investigation. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will determine if the shooting was justified.
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris issued a statement Monday on behalf of the city council, supporting the deputies in the shooting.
"The deputies involved in this incident and their families have the full support of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and City Council Members during this extremely difficult time when they will inevitably be second guessed by those who have never had to risk their lives while protecting the hard working families of our community," Parris wrote.
