Man with airsoft gun killed in Long Beach officer-involved shooting

LONG BEACH (CNS / FOX 11) - Officers shot and killed a man in Long Beach after someone reported he was holding a sub-machine gun, which turned out to be an Airsoft rifle missing any markings, police said Sunday.

Lionel Gibson, 21, of Long Beach was shot by police just before 5 p.m. Saturday in the area of 21st Street and Locust Avenue, Sgt. Megan Zabel of the Long Beach Police Department said.

His name was released today Investigator Selena Barros, of the coroner's office.

A witness called police about 4:45 p.m. Saturday and reported seeing a man holding what looked like an Uzi talking to three people in a vehicle, Zabel told reporters at the scene.

When officers got to the location, they located the suspect and the vehicle and at least one police office opened fire, she said.

The man was struck and died at the scene despite officers' attempts to render medical aid, Zabel said.

The Airsoft replica rifle was recovered near the suspect, Zabel said.

The mock guns are usually marked with orange tips to alert police that they are not real, but this one was not, police said.

The three males in the vehicle were detained pending further investigation, she said.

A handgun was recovered from one of the individuals detained. He was arrested on suspicion of being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

His name is not being released pending further investigation, police said.

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