Tony Louis Francis, 21

Tony Louis Francis Jr., a 21-year-old black man, was fatally shot by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy on Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, in the 9400 block of Flora Vista Street in Bellflower, according to authorities.

Shortly after 2 p.m., a man was waiting for his tires to be changed when Francis got out of a blue vehicle and walked toward the man. Francis then reached for a gold necklace the man was wearing. After a brief struggle, Francis broke the necklace, according to statements provided to the L.A. County district attorney’s office Justice System Integrity Division, which investigates all officer-involved shootings.

The two men continued to fight and fell to the ground as Francis punched the other man, according to the statements.

Nearby, Deputy Sergio Cosio was on patrol in a marked Sheriff’s Department vehicle and saw the altercation. Francis turned toward the vehicle, made eye contact with Cosio, then tried to run away, holding his waistband with his right hand, according to statements.

Cosio turned the car around to follow Francis, who had the gold chain in his hand. Francis then threw the chain onto the ground and also took off his sweatshirt with his left hand, keeping his right hand at his waist.

Francis then ran into a roofing business' driveway -- which ended with a 5-foot wall. Cosio followed Francis in his vehicle, and when he saw that the driveway ended, tried to stop the vehicle. But he hit the wall.

Francis then climbed onto a piece of machinery with a flat platform surface that was next to the wall. Francis, who was about five feet from Cosio, made a motion that Cosio interpreted as Francis drawing a weapon from his waist, according to Cosio's statement to the district attorney's office.

Cosio was unable to open his door and was trapped in the car. He ordered Francis to get on the ground and Francis ignored him, according to the statement. Cosio then fired six rounds from his service weapon through the driver’s side door, striking Francis in the head, right arm, torso and right leg.

Francis was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:35 p.m., according to Det. Frank Salerno, who investigated the case.

A weapon was not recovered at the scene.

The district attorney’s office found that Cosio acted in “lawful self-defense” when he used deadly force against Francis.

In September 2014, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Francis’ mother and daughter for $975,000.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz