Bicyclist Armed With Assault Rifle Is Shot By Police

This news item is sad and scary, so here's a photo to compensate in the other direction. (Photo by richardmasoner via Flickr)

An incident in Watts on Christmas morning is now under investigation after police shot and killed a bicyclist armed with an assault rifle around 4 a.m. at the Jordan Down Housing Projects.

Authorities were questioning a group of people inside an SUV after receiving a report of an assault involving a rifle and the armed suspect appeared, riding toward them on a bicycle, according to KTLA. The suspect reportedly ignored commands to drop the rifle and was shot.

The man was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. His identity has not been released but authorities believe the victim was in his 20s. A weapon was recovered at the scene.