LONG BEACH (CNS) - A police officer wounded a possibly suicidal 28-year-old man armed with a paintball pistol during a shooting this morning in Long Beach, authorities said.
The man suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to his lower body and the paintball pistol was recovered at the scene, the Long Beach Police Department reported.
Officers were dispatched at approximately 1:04 a.m. after gunshots were heard in the 1900 block of Harbor Avenue.
“The first arriving officer located a man on the west sidewalk, who pointed a weapon in the direction of the officer, that appeared to be a firearm,” according to a police statement. “An officer drew his duty weapon and fired at the suspect, wounding him.”
Paramedics rushed the man to an area hospital, where he was treated for gunshot wounds to the lower body.
No officers were injured during the shooting and the firearm -- a CO2-powered paintball pistol -- was recovered at the scene, police said. They added that the suspect later told officers he was suicidal.
Long Beach police homicide detectives urged anyone with information regarding the incident to call them at 562-570-7244 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.