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Homeless Man Fatally Shot By Police

LOS ANGELES (CBS) - A homeless man fatally shot by Los Angeles police Saturday died from multiple gunshot wounds today.

An officer responding to a prowler call was sent to the 1200 block of North Westmoreland Avenue, not far from Sunset Junction, near Hollywood and Sunset boulevards, between Virgil and Hillhurst avenues at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Approximately 20 minutes later, the officer was chasing the suspect on Fountain Avenue, near Westmoreland Avenue. According to Sgt. Frank Preciado of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section, at one point during the foot chase the suspect produced a handgun and was shot by police. Shortly afterward reports of a police shooting and "officer needs help" were broadcast.

A handgun was recovered at the scene and the officer suffered an injury to the face.

Lt. Joe Bale of the county coroner's office said that an autopsy was completed today and the cause of death was "multiple gunshot wounds."

The man's identity has been withheld pending notification of his family.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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