LOS ANGELES, CA – Authorities in Long Beach are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred outside a motel Thursday afternoon, where a man armed with a pellet gun was confronted by police, officials said.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. near the Bristol Motel, located in the 5500 block of Atlantic Avenue, after officers responded to reports of a person with a gun, according to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
Upon arrival, officers located the suspect outside the motel on the sidewalk, visibly armed with a firearm, officials said.
“Officers directed the suspect to drop the firearm. An officer discharged their service weapon,” the LBPD said in a statement.
Following the gunfire, the suspect surrendered and was immediately taken into custody, police added. Authorities confirmed the man was uninjured and was evaluated at the scene by paramedics before being transported from the area.
No officers or bystanders were injured in the incident.
A pellet gun was later recovered at the scene, leading authorities to clarify that the suspect’s weapon was not a firearm but closely resembled one, prompting the officers’ response.
The officers involved were wearing body cameras, and the footage will be reviewed as part of the investigation, police said. Under California law, the video evidence is required to be released to the public within 45 days of the incident.
“As with all officer-involved shootings, the Department will conduct a thorough multi-level review of the incident to evaluate the use of force and ensure compliance with policy,” a police spokesperson said.
The Long Beach Police Department’s Homicide Detail and Internal Affairs Division will lead the investigation, with additional oversight provided by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which routinely evaluates police shootings.
The shooting comes amid ongoing debates about police responses to incidents involving non-lethal weapons, such as BB guns or pellet guns, that resemble firearms. Advocates have called for increased training and de-escalation strategies to minimize the risk of injuries in similar encounters.
Local residents expressed relief that the incident ended without casualties but acknowledged the challenges faced by officers in split-second decisions.
“It’s scary to think someone could be carrying something that looks like a real gun and put themselves and others in danger,” said a witness who declined to be named.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the shooting to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Ethan Shear or Kelsey Myers at 562-570-7244.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
The investigation remains active, and officials plan to release additional details as the review process continues.
