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Police: Man Killed By Officers Was Pointing A Water Nozzle

LONG BEACH (AP) — Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell says a man shot to death by two officers during the weekend was found to have pointed a black pistol-grip water nozzle at them.

McDonnell told a news conference Monday that the shooting happened Sunday afternoon when the officers were trying to contain the seemingly intoxicated man but not confront him after receiving a 911 call from an apartment resident saying someone was sitting outside with a small gun.

McDonnell says the officers believed the man had a gun and were awaiting the arrival of backup when the man pointed the object in a two-handed posture that looked like what a person would do when they are about to fire a weapon.

The man, identified as 35-year-old Douglas Zerby, died at the scene.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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