Ruben Lamont Randolph, 51

Ruben Lamont Randolph, a 51-year-old black man, was shot and killed by police officers on Wednesday, Jan. 4, in the 900 block of North San Antonio Avenue in Pomona, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Pomona Police officers were called to the area of North San Antonio Avenue and East Columbia Avenue about 7 p.m. regarding a man who was shooting into an apartment, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Jauch. 

Officers saw a man, later identified as Randolph, walking in the middle of the block, holding a handgun, said Jauch. The officers and Randolph exchanged gunfire, Jauch said, and then Randolph ran into the alley behind the apartment building. 

The officers followed him, and three officers shot again, Jauch said, this time striking Randolph, who was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:22 p.m. 

No officers were injured. A handgun was found near Randolph’s body, Jauch said. 

Investigators learned that the building’s landlord and his girlfriend were both shot and wounded when Randolph fired into their apartment, Jauch said. Randolph then walked out into the courtyard and fired up into an apartment on the second floor, Jauch said. 

The Times reported that the landlord was shot in the stomach and his girlfriend was shot in the stomach and chest, according to authorities. They were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive, Jauch said. 

It’s not clear what prompted the shooting, Jauch said. Neighbors told KCAL-TV that Randolph was a tenant who was being evicted, but Jauch said investigators don’t know what started the dispute. 

“There are no indications he said anything to anybody,” Jauch said, “but we believe he may have been chasing somebody out of the landlord’s house. A female ran out of the landlord’s apartment during the shooting, and we think she was the target. He chased her and when she went into a neighboring apartment, he shot into that apartment too.”

The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the officer-involved shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.