LAPD: No Weapon Found at Scene of Officer-Involved Shooting

No weapon has been recovered at the place where

The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement that David Martinez was shot by Rampart officers after he ran from them, turned and raised his arm to point to raise what they believed to be a pistol.

Cellphone video captured the incident at Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard.

The statement released Saturday by the LAPD said the officers arrived on the scene responding to an "Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Suspect There Now" radio call. 

The statement said the caller had described Martinez as an "Hispanic Latino gang member."

The statement also said that the suspect was reported by the caller to "have brandished a gun and had also fired two shots."

The statement takes pains to say that it was the "officers who initiated contact" with Martinez.

Investigators spent over 12 hours at the site Tuesday, taking pictures from a variety of angles and examining ballistics evidence on the south side of Sunset Boulevard.

As is usual in these cases, the LAPD's Force Investigation Division detectives are handling the investigation, which involves Rampart Division officers.

According to the LAPD statement, the Department’s use-of-force policy states that the officer’s actions must be objectively reasonable.

The case will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the officer of the Inspector General and the Board of Police Commissioners.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Justice System Integrity Division will also conduct a review.