Omar Garcia, 24

Omar Garcia, a 24-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed by West Covina police officers after he allegedly took an officer's baton and used it in a fight against them about 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 behind a Target store, authorities said.

Officers had been called to the 2300 block of South Azusa Avenue in West Covina to investigate a report of a man  looking into cars in the store parking lot, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's records.

According to a sheriff's report, West Covina officers told investigators that after they contacted Garcia he began to fight with them.

"During the fight the suspect was able to remove a metal baton from one of the officers' duty belts and began using the baton to hit both the officers as he continued to fight with them," the sheriff's report said. "Fearing for their lives, both officers fired rounds from their duty weapons, striking and knocking the suspect to the ground."

Garcia was pronounced dead on the scene. One officer was taken to the hospital and treated for a broken wrist. The other officer was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

-- Anthony Pesce and Megan Garvey