Man holding rifle that was fake dies in California police shooting

A man who was reported to be holding a rifle that turned out to be fake died after police shot him in Downtown Santa Ana on Sunday night, Dec. 1.

Officers responded around 5:30 p.m. to the area of Broadway and 2nd Street following reports that a man was armed with and loading a rifle, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

When they arrived, two officers shot the man, who was in his 30s, in a parking lot, police said. Police didn’t immediately specify how many times they fired.

The rifle the man was reported to be carrying turned out to be fake, said Officer Natalie Garcia, a spokesperson for the Police Department.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

No officers or bystanders reported injuries following the shooting.

The investigation is ongoing.