A man was shot and killed by Santa Ana police officers on Sunday after being falsely believed to be armed with a rifle-style weapon in a downtown parking lot. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. near Broadway and Second Street, following reports of a man seen loading a rifle in public.
According to Officer Natalie Garcia of the Santa Ana Police Department, officers arrived at the scene and confronted the suspect, described as a Hispanic man in his 30s. The man reportedly engaged in an altercation with the officers before being shot. Authorities later determined the weapon was a replica firearm, not a real rifle.
The suspect was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Fortunately, no bystanders or officers were injured during the encounter. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.