Brandon Boyd: Long Beach shootout ends with man dead, officer wounded
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Community members were calling for justice after Brandon Boyd, a father of four, was shot and killed by police gunfire in broad daylight in Long Beach Tuesday evening.
Investigators said around 3 p.m., officers were called to the area after a report of a man with a gun.
Officers said they found the man sitting on the steps of a church in an area at E. 52nd Street and Atlantic Plaza. From there, a standoff unfolded for over two hours.
Those who know Boyd said he was having a mental health episode.
Authorities said Boyd was uncooperative with officers as they attempted to deescalate the situation. Hostage negotiators and mental health evaluation teams were called in before a SWAT team responded.
At some point, Boyd and four officers exchanged gunfire. One of the officers was struck in the arm and the suspect died from his injuries at the scene.
The officer who was shot was treated and released from an area hospital.
A friend who saw Boyd earlier in the day said he can't believe Boyd is gone.
"He just left my house," witness Trayvon Richmond said. "He was just talking about some things he had went through… they didn’t help him. They didn’t come to help him. They came to shoot and kill him."
"You guys are supposed to help the guy, not kill him" Richmond added.
Long Beach Police released a picture of a gun that was recovered at the scene.
(Long Beach PD)
Officials with the Long Beach Police Department said officers were wearing body cameras and that they would make the video public as soon as possible.