Bell Officer Kills Man Threatening Woman

A Bell police officer shot and killed a man who was holding a pregnant woman in a headlock and threatening her with a broken fluorescent light bulb Monday morning, sheriff’s deputies said.

One of the officer’s shots ricocheted and struck a woman bystander in the foot. Police had been called to the East Florence Avenue apartment complex by neighbors who said the 28-year-old man was “acting crazy” and roaming around outside in his underwear, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Rich Erickson.

When officers arrived, the man, whose identity was not released, argued with them before running into his apartment, investigators said. He emerged brandishing the bulb and dragging the woman in a headlock, Erickson said. He then broke the bulb and started shaking it at her face, the sergeant said.

An officer, whose identity was not released, ordered the man to drop the bulb, deputies said. When he refused, the officer, an 11-year veteran, fired several shots, one of which hit the man in the upper torso, Erickson said.

The pregnant woman, who had been visiting the man, was unhurt, and the woman hit by the ricocheting bullet was hospitalized in good condition, Erickson said.