As the Los Angeles Police Department investigates the events of a fatal shooting Sunday, protesters and civil rights activists gathered on Skid Row on Monday to voice their concerns about police brutality.
LAPD says the officers were responding to a robbery call when they got into a scuffle with two men. One picked up a baton but was later handcuffed. The other suspect, seen in the background of the video struggled with officers. He was tased and then later shot and killed. Police say the suspect was reaching for the officer's gun.
"This is an awful tragedy, but the officers took on the face of it took reasonable step to avoid it. Had the individual not grabbed the officer's pistol certainly we would not be having this discussion," Chief Charlie Beck said.
Police enlarged sceen shots of the video to show where they believe the suspect grabbed the officer's gun. At least two of the officers involved were wearing body cameras. Back on skid row, tensions were high as community activists protested use of force and honored the suspect who went by the nickname of 'Africa'.
