Darrell Atkinson, 49

Oct. 6, 2013

Darrell Atkinson, a 49-year-old black man, was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy Sunday, Oct. 6, near Venice Boulevard and the 10 Freeway in Mid-City, according to L.A. County coroner’s records.

Shortly before 4 p.m., deputies from the Transit Services Bureau came into contact with Atkinson, who allegedly grabbed a wooden stick from a nearby shopping cart, according to the coroner’s office and a news release from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities said he then “advanced toward the deputies with the wooden stick overhead,” prompting deputies to open fire.

Atkinson was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information can call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

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Four reader comments

These cops are trigger happy. I had a shooting outside of my apt right near La Cienega last month. As soon as it happened I went into my room, grabbed my rifle, and went outside to scan the area and make sure the shooter didn't try running into my building. When the police showed up (5 minutes later mind you) the officer treated me a little disrespectfully as if he was some hero, or the big man in charge. He told me he would have shot me if he saw me and came sooner. No hesitation or mercy even if I would have laid down my rifle.. These cops are trigger happy and they think they're soldiers. I put him in his place when I reminded him of my rights. Never informed him that I was a machine gunner in the Marines just a couple years before though. If that cop would have tried "smoking me", I would have smoked him. 556 beats 9mm any day. You cops better know your place. Your job isn't to protect. It's to serve!

— 2ndAmendment Dec. 13, 2013 at 8:51 p.m.