Jeremy Flores dies in fatal Boyle Heights shooting
Fatal Boyle Heights shooting death of Jeremy Flores
Police authorities confirmed Monday morning that a man located in Boyle Heights was fatally shot by Los Angeles police officers. The incident transpired during an early morning encounter near the intersection of 8th and Spence streets.
According to official LAPD reports, Hollenbeck Division officers received a dispatch around 8:30 a.m. regarding a barricaded individual suspected of being armed with a rifle near that specific corner location. Upon their arrival, officers found a man confined within a vehicle, prompting the use of lethal force by the responding officers.
Post-incident investigations revealed that the man barricaded inside the van was not equipped with a conventional rifle. Instead, authorities confirmed he was armed with an Airsoft MP5 model. This particular type of airsoft gun is capable of launching metallic-tipped projectiles, and in this case, the distinctive orange tip had been removed from the weapon.
Following the initial shooting, specialized tactical units were deployed. A SWAT team attempted to establish communication with the individual inside the van by introducing a substance known as CS gas, but there was no response from the suspect. Security personnel cordoned off the area thoroughly before proceeding with the extraction.
Emergency medical services and Los Angeles Fire Department personnel then worked together to remove the individual from the vehicle. Despite the circumstances surrounding his removal, the man was pronounced deceased on the scene shortly after the rescue operation concluded. The identity of the deceased was later confirmed by associates to be 26-year-old Jeremy Flores.
The Los Angeles Police Department has not officially released the precise circumstances that led to the decision of using lethal force in this situation. A standard LAPD protocol review is currently underway. Officer Jeff Lee, identified as part of the department’s internal review team, indicated that investigators will examine body camera footage to determine the appropriateness of the officers’ actions.
No other individuals sustained injuries as a result of this event.
