Francisco Garcia, 26

Francisco Garcia, a 26-year-old Latino, was shot and killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy Wednesday, Feb. 24, at the corner of Alondra Boulevard and Studebaker Road in Norwalk, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Garcia was in an Acura Integra at a gas pump outside a 7-Eleven  when a deputy noticed the car had been reported stolen from Whittier earlier in the day, Lt. Eddie Hernandez said. 

Deputies were doing extra patrols and checking vehicle license plates in the area because of the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Christopher Bishop as he was shopping at a convenience store the day before, Hernandez said.  

The deputy pulled into the station shortly after 5 p.m., parked behind the Integra and went up to talk to Garcia, who was standing outside the car at the pump, Hernandez said.

Garcia told the deputy to leave him alone, Hernandez said, and the deputy returned to his patrol car to double check the registration and make sure it was reported stolen. 

The registration came back again as reported stolen, Hernandez said, and by that time, Garcia had gotten back into the Integra. 

“The deputy comes back to the car, trying to get the suspect’s attention. He asked him, ‘Whose car is this?’ and the suspect says, ‘None of your business.’” Hernandez said. “Then he [Garcia] turns the car on and at the same time starts to reach behind the passenger seat.”

The deputy was standing by the driver’s side door, Hernandez said, when Garcia allegedly accelerated and turned sharply to the left, striking the deputy with the car.

The deputy fired at Garcia, striking him multiple times. The car moved forward and stopped when it struck a sign advertising the station’s gas prices

Hernandez said the deputy pulled Garcia out of the car and began CPR until paramedics took him to the hospital. Garcia was pronounced dead at the hospital at 6:04 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

The deputy, who has not been identified, was also taken to the hospital, where he was treated for a strained neck and “minor bruising” on his left and right thighs, Hernandez said.

The deputy has been with the department since 2007. He is still working but out of the field pending the outcome of the investigation, Hernandez said. 

No weapon was found in the car, or on Garcia, Hernandez said.

Investigators don’t know exactly when the deputy drew his weapon, but he had it drawn prior to being struck by the car, Hernandez said. 

Multiple witnesses have come forward to give statements about what they saw.

“I can’t get into the specifics of it, but we’re getting different points of view, which is helpful for us,” Hernandez said. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.