Tuesday 27 September 2022 12:26 AM Teenager wielding 'black rifle' that was - an Airsoft gun is shot dead by LAPD ... trends now
The LAPD have released the raw video showing the moments a teenager was shot dead outside of his home as he wielded a toy rifle as his mother screamed for the officers not to hurt her son.
The officers responded to 19-year-old Luis Herrera's home in south Los Angeles before 1:20 pm on September 17 after he himself called 911 to allege that his father had been abusing him and his mother. That call later proved to be untrue.
Body cam footage shows the moment that two uniformed officers approach the home. Before they get to the door, Herrera appears while holding what appears to be a black rifle.
The officers retreat to the side of the house and seek cover from trash cans. They can be heard yelling: 'Put that down, put that down,' and 'Let go of that gun.'
After ignoring the officers multiple commands to drop the apparent weapon, the officers begin shooting Herrera. The video shows the teen drop the ground and drop the weapon. He appears to be still moving in the video but is incapacitated.
Upon further inspection, the rifle in question turned out to be an Airsoft gun, a BB-style toy that fires plastic projectiles.
As the officers approach the home, 19-year-old Luis Herrera can be seen emerging from the front of the house clutching what appeared to be a large black rifle
The officers quickly drew their weapons, demanded that Herrera drop the gun and ran for cover at the side of the home
Teenage victim Luis Herrera, shown here, was armed with two Airsoft style guns when he was shot dead
Behind the garbage cans the officers opened fire on Herrera, hitting him six times, the victim's father said
As he lay on the ground, the officers continued to demand that he drop the gun
As Herrera lay mortally wounded, officers placed him in handcuffs
The Airsoft rifle that was wielded by Herrera, many prominent gun manufacturers allow Airsoft to use their designs in their toys
In the 911 call, Herrera tells an operator: 'My dad is drunk, and he started beating on my mom, and I tried to get involved, and now he attacked me.'
He went on: 'My dad... I'm all bloody because of him.'
The new video released by the LAPD also shows security footage from Herrera's backyard. That footage shows his family's reaction to the shooting.
The video is presented by LAPD spokesperson Captain Kelly
