A man was shot dead by a local police officer during an altercation in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.
In disturbing footage posted on Facebook by Anthony Blackburn, who witnessed the incident, a group of police officers can be seen in a scuffle with two people near what appears to be makeshift tents and sleeping pallets on the sidewalk.
One woman is arrested by two officers after she picks up a baton, while another man is forced to the ground by a group of four officers. As he lies on the ground, he continues to struggle with police and one officer can be heard saying, "Drop the gun, drop the gun."
Moments later, five gunshots can be heard in the footage. According to the Associated Press, the man was shot at close range after being tasered, after which the police officers can be seen moving away from the man slowly with their guns still raised.
Authorities have not released the identity of the person who died after being taken to hospital, but many media reports are identifying him as a homeless man.
Witness Dennis Horne told the LA Times that the man, known by the name "Africa," had been fighting with someone in his tent on the sidewalk when police approached and requested that he come out. Africa ignored their orders, Horne said, so they tasered him and dragged him out. Not long after, Africa was dead.
Homeless people in Los Angeles are allowed to camp in tents on sidewalks between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., but must pack up their tents during the daylight hours.
Many high profile celebrities tweeted in regards to their shock at the incident.
Wow. Just wow. --> RT @GlobalGrindNews: LAPD officer shot and killed a homeless man in downtown LA this afternoon... http://t.co/PBIZCcXLa5”— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) March 2, 2015
WOW RT @occupythemob: #LAPD cops tackle homeless man to the ground, beat him, tase him, then shoot & kill him. http://t.co/Pm6NC6xxNE— Big Boi (@BigBoi) March 2, 2015
The incident is bound to draw comparisons to the beating of Rodney King by police officers in Los Angeles in 1991 following a high-speed car chase. The acquittal of the officers, who were filmed beating King, sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots that left 53 dead and thousands injured.
Following Sunday's shooting, social media users began organizing a protest at 9 p.m. local time at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles. By 10 p.m. a small crowd had gathered.
Everyone has a grim expression, as the crowd gathered at Pershing Square in response to shooting in Skid Row pic.twitter.com/8utfjSDZJF— Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) March 2, 2015
FATAL LAPD SHOOTING: "The heavens are crying right now," said Gen. Jeff Page @ #PershingSquare http://t.co/TgsIlmycxH pic.twitter.com/OB8lTNahbH— Matt Hamilton (@MattHjourno) March 2, 2015
General Jeff explains to #LAProtest group what happened with the #LAPD and Africa on #SkidRow. #PershingSquare pic.twitter.com/QCSm4GBYeq— Jasmyne Cannick (@jasmyne) March 2, 2015
Circle up @ #pershingsquare for the brother known as "Africa," murdered by @LAPD on #SkidRow. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/HCQFSZU6HD— real8 (re·late) (@iamreal8) March 2, 2015