LOS ANGELES, CA – An elderly woman was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a Bellflower home Sunday, where Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies subsequently fatally shot a man they said was armed with a handgun.
The incident unfolded shortly before 1 p.m. Sept. 27 in the 9500 block of Maplewood Street, where deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call involving a person in distress.
When deputies arrived, they found an elderly woman inside the residence who was unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel.
While deputies were inside the home investigating and attempting to address the woman’s medical emergency, they encountered a man in his 50s who was allegedly armed with a handgun, according to information released by the Sheriff’s Department.
A deputy opened fire, striking the man. He was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.
Woman found unresponsive inside Bellflower home
The initial response was not reported as a shooting investigation. Deputies were dispatched to the residence after authorities received a call concerning a person who appeared to be in need of medical assistance.
The response changed as deputies entered the residence and encountered circumstances that led to the deputy-involved shooting.
The woman, believed to have been in her 80s, was found unresponsive inside the home. Fire personnel were called to assist, but she could not be revived.
Officials have not publicly established the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death. Her cause and manner of death remain part of the broader investigation.
The residence is within the area served by the LASD Lakewood Station, which provides law enforcement services to Bellflower as well as Lakewood, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens, Paramount and several unincorporated communities. The station is located at 5130 Clark Avenue in Lakewood.
Deputy fatally shoots allegedly armed man
While deputies were inside the residence, they encountered a man who was believed to be armed with a handgun.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, the man produced the weapon, leading to a deputy-involved shooting. The man was struck by gunfire and later pronounced dead.
No deputies were injured during the confrontation.
The circumstances immediately preceding the shooting, including the man’s actions and the exact sequence of events inside the residence, remain under investigation. Officials have not publicly released the identities of the man or the woman in the information currently available.
The investigation is also expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and whether the two deaths were connected.
Man and woman knew each other
Investigators said the man and woman knew each other, but authorities have not disclosed the nature of their relationship.
Officials have also not publicly characterized the incident as a random attack. Determining the relationship between the two people and what happened inside the residence is expected to be an important part of the investigation.
At this stage, it would be premature to draw conclusions about how the woman died or what role, if any, the man played in her death.
Those questions remain unresolved as investigators process evidence from the home.
Deputy-involved shooting undergoes separate review
Because the incident involved a fatal deputy-involved shooting, the case will be subject to multiple layers of review.
The Sheriff’s Department says its Homicide Bureau handles the criminal investigation when a person is struck by deputy gunfire. The department also says deputy-involved shootings are reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Justice System Integrity Division, while the Office of Inspector General provides independent oversight.
The District Attorney’s Office maintains a public database of officer-involved shooting investigations and conducts evidence reviews in qualifying cases. In fatal shootings, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner also conducts a separate investigation that can include an autopsy and pathology examination.
The Sheriff’s Department notes that investigators may review witness interviews, available video, forensic evidence and other records, and that the understanding of an incident can change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed.
Investigation remains active
The deaths of the woman and the man remain under investigation, while authorities continue examining both the woman’s death and the deputy-involved shooting.
No deputies were reported injured.
Anyone with information about the people involved or the circumstances surrounding the shooting is asked to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Authorities have not released additional details about the woman’s cause of death, the exact relationship between the two people or the full sequence of events that led to the deputy opening fire. Those details are expected to depend on the continuing investigation and subsequent official reviews.
