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BELLFLOWER (CNS) - Authorities today identified a man who was fatally shot by sheriff's deputies in Bellflower after he allegedly stabbed a man with a gardening tool and then swung the implement at the deputies.
The shooting occurred shortly after 12:10 a.m. Thursday, when deputies went to Artesia Boulevard and Downey Avenue on a street racing call, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Edgar Ortiz, 32, of Bellflower, died at a hospital, the Los Angeles County coroner's office reported.
``While deputies were handling the street racing incident, they were flagged down by a victim who said a suspect had just stabbed him with a garden claw,'' a sheriff's department statement said. ``The victim immediately pointed to the suspect ... and identified him as the person who stabbed him.
``Deputies attempted to detain the suspect, but he fled the scene southbound Downey Avenue on foot. When deputies caught up to the suspect, he turned around and advanced on them while swinging the approximately 3-foot-long garden claw with spikes on the end at them, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred,'' the statement said.
``The initial victim stabbed by the suspect was treated on scene by Los Angeles County fire paramedics,'' the statement said. ``It appears the street racing incident is not related to the stabbing incident. No deputies were injured during the incident.''
It was unclear what prompted the gardening tool attack.
Anyone with information about the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.