Jose George Anthony Franco, a 37-year-old Latino, was shot and killed by police officers on Wednesday, Nov. 16, in the 13400 block of Penn Street in Whittier, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Whittier police officers were called to the scene around 6 a.m. after someone called the department reporting "a suspicious man walking westbound on Penn Street, possibly holding a machete," according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Jauch.
When the officers tried to talk to Franco, he ignored their commands to drop the machete and picked up a tree branch and threw it at one of them, Jauch said.
The branch missed, Jauch said, but then Franco lunged at another officer, and two officers opened fire.
Franco was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:01 a.m. from multiple gunshot wounds, according to coroner’s records.
No officers were injured. The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shooting.
Franco lived in the area, Jauch said, but investigators don’t know why he was carrying the machete.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.