Driver Of Car Stopped Before Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting Wanted By Police

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Police want to question the companion of a man who was shot to death by a Los Angeles police motorcycle officer in South Los Angeles.

The man killed by police was identified as 18-year-old Kenny Watkins. He died while being taken to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Watkins had just graduated from Bellflower High School and was attending Southwest Community College with dreams of attending Boise State, a man who said he was Watkins' cousin told CBS2/KCAL9's Elsa Ramon.

"He was a good kid, didn't get in too much trouble," the unidentified man said. "I just hate that this happened. I just wish the killing would stop."

Watkins was shot during a traffic stop at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on Century Boulevard, east of Figueroa Street, when he emerged from the dark sedan in which he was a passenger, police said. The driver of the sedan drove off, and is now being sought.

Los Angeles police officials did not immediately say what prompted the officer to open fire, but two handguns were recovered at the scene, LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar said.

The officer was not injured in the shooting.

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