Pasadena police shoot dead man believed to be carrying gun on Spencer Highway

The incident began around 10 a.m. Tuesday near the 3100 block of Spencer Highway. Police received a call from a man who pointed a pistol in the air near a Hartz Chicken restaurant. Officers who were at the scene reportedly encountered the unidentified man walking down the street with a gun within two minutes.

Police say the man started running from officers. They followed him in their squad car and repeatedly told him to drop the gun.

At one point, the man walked into the middle of the street, police say, and turned to approach officers. The two officers then opened fire and killed the man.

“Anytime someone walks around with a gun, it’s a hazard to the public,” said Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger.

The deceased man is not identified at this time. We are told that the officers who shot him have four and seven years of service. They will be placed on administrative leave for at least five days before they can resume duty, Chief Bruegger said.

The investigation is ongoing and the public is being asked to avoid the area.

Police will review footage from officers’ body-worn cameras and the vehicle’s dash cam.

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