14 DAY TRIAL // A man has been shot by police during the serving of a warrant in Irvine, California. The incident took place at an apartment complex on Tuesday.
Officers shot the 35-year-old in the parking lot, after confronting him. He was later arrested for child abuse of a minor younger than 14 years old.
“Detectives were here preparing to serve a search warrant when they contacted the suspect in the parking lot,” Irvine Police Department Lt. Julia Engen tells KTLA.
“The subject they were here to interview for their investigation was shot,” Engen adds.
Several shots were fired and an evacuation of an apartment complex was ordered. Witness Cindy Jackson was applying to rent an apartment and described the incident.
“A female who was applying as a prospective resident as well said, ‘There’s a man with a rifle outside and I think he’s starting to shoot.’
“We then were asked to run out the left side of the building by a police officer, and we ran about two blocks up the road while shots were being fired,” Jackson notes.
There are conflicting records about the shooting. Some witnesses detailed that the suspect had a gun, while others recall him being unarmed.
“He didn't pull out no gun. I'm telling you, I didn't see no gun,” witness Lisa Henry argues in an interview with KABC.
Henry adds that she was in the vehicle with the suspect before he was shot.
“We don’t have exact details right now of the moment in time when the shooting occurred. That will be coming later when the investigation is more complete,” Engen says.
The suspect was identified as one Ronald Williams, and he was shot at least once by a police detective. He was alert and talking before being transported to the hospital.