Southeast LA Deputy Involved Shooting under Investigation

CUDAHY (CNS) - A man who died of injuries suffered in a deputy-involved
shooting in Cudahy has been identified today by his family members.

Rigoberto Arceo's family members told CBS2 that he was 34-year-old man and the father of two boys. He was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies who claim he reaached for a deputy's gun as they grappled over the service weapon in the streets of Cudahy, an industrial area 10 miles southeast of downtown Los
Angeles.

'We're gonna miss him so much. He was such a wonderful man. I love him
so much,"  Joanna Arceo, the suspect's fiancee, told CBS2. "His kids are gonna
miss him. We're all gonna miss him.

"And this could have been prevented. They did not have to shoot him. One bullet straight to the heart. That's what it was."

The shooting was reported at 10:02 p.m. Saturday on Walnut Street west of Otis Avenue, said Sgt. Harry Drucker of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

"East Los Angeles Sheriff's deputies responded to the area of the 4400
block of Elizabeth Street, Cudahy, regarding a pending fight at which a man
was seen with a gun,'' Drucker said.

A vehicle in which the suspect fled was seen leaving the location, he said. An East Los Angeles deputy located the vehicle and it pulled over on Walnut Street, west of Otis Avenue, as he was following it, Drucker said.

"A male adult suspect exited the vehicle and advanced on the Deputy,
ignoring the Deputy's commands to stop,'' Drucker said. "The suspect attempted to take the Deputy's duty firearm at which time the Deputy feared for his life and fired one round, striking the suspect in the upper torso. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"A handgun was recovered from inside of the vehicle. The driver, a female adult, was detained for questioning and released,'' Drucker said.

Rigoberto Arceo's sister told CBS2 that the weapon was not his, nor was it loaded.

Sheriff's homicide detectives and the district attorney's office were continuing their investigation today.

From City News Service

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