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5 Freeway Near Boyle Heights Reopened Following Police Shooting [Updated]
Updated 11:45 a.m.: All lanes on the 5 freeway have been reopened following the police activity in the area.
The northbound 5 freeway between the 10 freeway and Broadway in Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights were closed until 11:30 a.m. Sunday for police activity. Early Sunday morning, California Highway Patrol officers shot and killed a pedestrian who was wandering the 5 freeway with a knife. CHP arrived on the scene after receiving multiple calls about the man late Saturday night, after which the deadly encounter ensued.
CHP Officer Saul Gomez told KTLA "[n]on-lethal measures including a stun gun were used" before the man was shot. Officials could not confirm how many shots were fired and how many officers fired their guns. Gomez said “[the pedestrian] produced a knife and it was used in a manner where the officers felt they were in danger,” according to the L.A. Times. A knife was recovered at the scene.
The lanes are expected to reopen at 12 p.m. Sunday. The southbound 5 freeway was previously closed as well, but those lanes reopened by 9 a.m. Sunday.
SIGALERT UPDATE: SB I-5 AT BROADWAY, ALL SB LANES ARE NOW OPEN, NB I-5 LANES AND WB I-10 TO NB I-5 WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
— CHP PIO - LA County (@CHPsouthern) September 17, 2017