Police Shoot Man Holding Little Girl At Knifepoint

WHITTIER, CA — A suspect was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Whittier after he abducted his estranged wife from the lobby of the Whittier Police Station, authorities said Tuesday.

At about 6 p.m. Monday, a man and woman, who were married and estranged with two children, were conducting a child exchange at the police station, when the man abducted his estranged wife at knifepoint and forced her into the vehicle with the two children, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, according to Deputy Trina Schraeder of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The man drove to the 13800 block of Philadelphia Street, where the mother got out of the vehicle and walked away, said Schrader.

The suspect then drove away with the children in the car, but soon returned to the 13800 block of Philadelphia Street, removed the girl from the vehicle and held her at knifepoint, she said.

Officers from the Whittier Police Department arrived around 6:30 p.m. and attempted to detain the suspect, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred, Schraeder said.

The suspect was hit at least once in the upper torso, taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries, she said.

No other injuries were reported and sheriff's detectives are assisting Whittier police with the investigation into the shooting, said Schraeder.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock