LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
An LAPD officer shot and killed a vandalism suspect in a melee in the Harbor UCLA Medical Center emergency room Saturday.
The deceased man was Ruben Jose Herrera, 26, of Torrance, the coroner's office office told City News Service.
The shooting occurred around 2:30 p.m. Saturday after officers uncuffed Herrera from a gurney in the hospital's emergency room. Herrera landed in the hospital after an earlier fight with officers on the street after he was suspected of vandalism.
After being uncuffed in the emergency room, Herrera attacked officers with a metal stool, so they shot him, according to a City News Service report. The L.A. Times reports that officers tried to use a Taser on Herrera before opening fire, but it did not stop him from attacking them.
Herrera's mother reportedly said the 26-year-old was bipolar.