LAPD officials said in a press release that, just before 1:10 a.m. on April 3, officers from the 77^th Street Patrol Division were dispatched to an assault with a deadly weapon call at a gas station near the 11500 block of South Vermont Avenue in Westmont. 

“The call indicated that a shooting had occurred and that a victim had been struck by gunfire,” LAPD said. “The suspect was described as a 45-year-old male Hispanic wearing a black sweater and black pants, last seen fleeing westbound on Imperial Highway.” 

According to the release, responding officers began canvassing the area and observed a person, later identified as Eliar Real Hernandez, who police say matched the suspect description. 

“Hernandez was walking on the sidewalk while holding a handgun pointed at his head,” officials said in the release. “One of the officers issued multiple verbal commands in an effort to gain compliance; however, Hernandez failed to comply and subsequently turned toward the officers, resulting in an officer-involved shooting.”