Man Wielding Replica Gun Fatally Shot Near Elementary School In Upland

UPLAND (CBSLA) — A man wielding a replica handgun was shot and killed by officers near Cabrillo Elementary School in Upland early Thursday morning.

The shooting occurred at about 3:40 a.m. at 11th Street and Benson Avenue in Upland. Three Upland police officers opened fire on the suspect, who was struck at least once and is now hospitalized in critical condition. Large pools of blood and clothes were left at the scene.

The incident began at 3:13 a.m., when officers responded to reports of a suspicious person in the area. They came upon the suspect holding a replica firearm, police said. In cell phone video recorded by a witness and obtained by CBS2, officers can be heard yelling commands to the suspect. The officers can be heard telling him to "get your hand off the gun" and "don't move."

Eventually, all three officers opened fire.

"An array of gunshots just going off," witness Stephanie Orellana told CBS2. "So then, we just stood still, and then you can hear them tell him, 'flip him over,' so they were trying to work on him."

Authorities released a photo of the replica handgun which was recovered at the scene. All three officers were wearing body cameras.

"It looks like a gun to me, and I don't think anyone who's having to make a split-second decision in darkness, would see it any differently," Upland Police Chief Darren Goodman told reporters.

The suspect, described as a Hispanic man in his 20s or 30s, was not immediately identified. The suspect was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon.

The shooting happened near Cabrillo Elementary School, which was closed at the time and not involved in the incident. Classes resumed as normal Thursday. Teachers were forced to park down far from the campus. As children headed in, the suspect's clothing was still in the street, along with several evidence markers.

Stretches of both 11th Street and Benson Avenue were closed for the shooting investigation.