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COVINA (CNS) - A standoff in Wingate Park in Covina between police and a 22-year-old man allegedly armed with a knife and holding his 7-month-old daughter with him in a car ended when officers fatally shot the man and rescued the child unharmed, it was reported today.
The shooting occurred about 10:20 p.m. Sunday, about six hours after police went to the 700 block of North Glendora Avenue on a report of a ``suspicious vehicle,'' according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Covina Police Department.
``Upon the officers' contact with the occupants of the vehicle, (a) female adult stated she needed the officers' assistance regarding a disturbance,'' a sheriff's statement said. ``The female adult exited the vehicle,'' leaving the male adult inside the vehicle with a Hispanic baby girl.
The man ``made threatening statements while armed with a knife,'' and a standoff ensued, the sheriff's statement said.
``After approximately six hours of negotiations, officers feared for the toddler's safety based on the suspect's statements,'' the statement said. ``Officers devised a tactical intervention plan in order to rescue the child who they believed was in danger.
``During the rescue operation, several officers fired multiple rounds at the suspect,'' the statement said. ``The suspect was struck multiple times in the upper torso and died at the scene.''
The toddler was not injured, nor were the officers. Sheriff's detectives were assisting Covina police in the investigation.
According to Covina police Officer Ray Marquez, the man had made threats to hurt himself.
Video from the scene showed police using a device that caused a cloud, firing shots and taking the baby from the white car.
The man's mother, Remi Hamilton, told NBC4 the fatally wounded man was Daniel Navarro of Covina.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.