One person was killed Thursday morning after Los Angeles police opened fire on a suspect in the parking lot next to the California Science Center in Exposition Park. Officers had rushed to the scene on reports of an armed person, and witnesses captured tense footage of patrol SUVs and ambulances flooding the museum's lot.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the LAPD received a call at about 9:30 a.m. reporting an armed man at the museum and said the suspect was hit by an officer's gunfire. The station's video showed what appeared to be a rifle on the ground as first responders worked the scene.
Scene and local context
The California Science Center sits at 700 Exposition Park Drive, south of downtown Los Angeles, next to the Natural History Museum and the California African American Museum and across from the USC campus, placing the shooting in a busy cultural and educational corridor, according to Exposition Park. The center regularly draws families and school groups during the day, so any police action there can quickly ripple through visitor traffic and transit in the area.
Investigation and next steps
The LAPD's Force Investigation Division typically handles officer-involved shootings, while the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is notified to review potential criminal charges, per department guidance. The LAPD notes that such investigations can take days or weeks as detectives collect evidence and interview witnesses.
What authorities have said
Authorities had not immediately released the identity of the person who died or detailed what led up to the shooting; NBC Los Angeles reported that it had reached out to law enforcement for more information. This story will be updated as the LAPD or other agencies release additional details.
