Fatal confrontation in Torrance strip mall parking lot

TORRANCE, CA (FOX 11) - A tense and ultimately fatal confrontation between police and a man in a Torrance strip mall parking lot.

Brandon Hallock was at the mall before the police arrived.

"I saw him threaten at least two people waved the knife at them," said Hallock. "He was sitting on the ground they were trying to talk to him asking him to put down that knife. They must have talked to him for a good ten minutes."

After trying to talk him down, police tell us they shoot the man with a non lethal bean bag gun multiple times. However, moments later, he gets up and continues toward them.
Police opened up fire on him.

Police say it was standard procedure and officers took all the proper measures.

"I believe our officers used restraint in this situation as they tried less than lethal options officers did their best to deescalate the situation unfortunately he did not comply with the officers orders," said Torrance Police Sgt. Ronald Harris.

The majority of the massive parking lot off of Hawthorne at Del Amo was blocked off as police investigate the scene including an animal tank - witnesses say the man had a snake as well.

The LA district attorneys office is on the scene and overseeing the investigation. The name of the man has not been released.