Man armed with metal pole shot, beaten, killed by police in Southern California

A man in San Bernardino County was shot, beaten and killed after reportedly attacking police with a metal pole Tuesday, officials announced.

An officer with the Fontana Police Department responded to reports of a male suspect in the area of Cherry Avenue and Baseline Road using the pole to damage property and assault a person just before 2:20 p.m. 

Police say the responding officer attempted to deescalate the situation, but the man refused multiple commands to drop the weapon and surrender.  

“During the encounter, the suspect attacked the officer with the pipe, resulting in a lethal force response from the officer,” a Fontana PD news release stated.  

Video of the incident obtained by KTLA shows a man on the ground in the parking lot, presumably after being shot, when an officer rolls him over and strikes him in the face three times before the suspect goes completely limp.

Police said the man was rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead.  

Authorities also said the officer sustained injuries during the attack and was taken to the hospital. The officer’s condition was not immediately available.  

“The Fontana Police Department is aware of a video circulating on social media that depicts a portion of the incident,” the release stated. “It is important to note that this video only shows a small portion of the event in its entirety. The Fontana Police Department is conducting an internal administrative investigation into the entirety of the incident.”  

Per protocol, investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will handle the investigation into the fatal police shooting.  

No further details were provided.