BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Police say the man was at the far southwest pump. A police spokesman says the first officer on scene thought the man might have been armed, so when the man charged the officer shot him once in the chest.
Bakersfield police say the man was pronounced dead at Kern Medical Center an hour after the shooting. BPD says it all started around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon when a call came in that a man was pouring gas on a woman threatening to light her on fire.
Officers say when the first cop arrived the man was holding an object witnesses describe as a horsehoe shaped bike lock.
Witnesses say the man charged the officer. That's when BPD says the officer fired one round hitting him in the torso.
Witnesses tell BPD the man was at the gas station bothering customers for 3 hours, prior to the shooting. "He was doing some erratic things striking items around the business like the fence that type of thing he was throwing furniture outside in the patio area," says Sgt. Joe Grubbs, Bakersfield Police.
BPD says the woman at the gas pump did not know the man. Officers say she says was very frightened because she had children in the car. As of 2 Wednesday afternoon the police said they did not know the man's identity.
The officer involved, who police haven't yet identified, was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
The BPD has launched an investigation into the shooting. Officers are asking any additional witnesses to call 661-327-7111.
Bakersfield police say the man was pronounced dead at Kern Medical Center an hour after the shooting. BPD says it all started around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon when a call came in that a man was pouring gas on a woman threatening to light her on fire.
Officers say when the first cop arrived the man was holding an object witnesses describe as a horsehoe shaped bike lock.
Witnesses say the man charged the officer. That's when BPD says the officer fired one round hitting him in the torso.
Witnesses tell BPD the man was at the gas station bothering customers for 3 hours, prior to the shooting. "He was doing some erratic things striking items around the business like the fence that type of thing he was throwing furniture outside in the patio area," says Sgt. Joe Grubbs, Bakersfield Police.
BPD says the woman at the gas pump did not know the man. Officers say she says was very frightened because she had children in the car. As of 2 Wednesday afternoon the police said they did not know the man's identity.
The officer involved, who police haven't yet identified, was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
The BPD has launched an investigation into the shooting. Officers are asking any additional witnesses to call 661-327-7111.