Deputies Respond To Suicidal Person Armed With Handgun. Deputy-Involved Shooting Occurred

On April 1, 2026, at approximately 1:32 a.m., East Los Angeles Station deputies responded to a call of a suicidal person armed with a handgun inside his residence, with family members present, in the 1400 block of South Downey Road, East Los Angeles. The call was updated to indicate the male was shooting inside the residence. The male was later identified as 29-year-old Erik Torres. Upon arrival, deputies developed a tactical plan to approach the residence and evacuated the family to safety. During the incident, deputies observed Torres at the threshold of an exterior door armed with a handgun. Deputies requested an armored vehicle, which was positioned in the residence’s driveway while they continued efforts to de-escalate the situation. Torres ultimately exited the residence armed with a handgun and discharged it, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred. Torres was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. Deputies approached and rendered medical aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel. Torres was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies or other persons were injured during this incident. A 9mm blank-firing handgun, designed to only fire blank cartridge casings, with a loaded magazine, along with several expended blank cartridge casings, was recovered at the scene.