Authorities identify man shot to death by police in Downey

Authorities on Monday identified a man who police shot and killed at a home in Downey.

Officers responded at about 6:15 p.m. Saturday to a disturbance call in the 7100 block of Stewart and Gray Road near the Long Beach (710) Freeway, according to the Downey Police Department.

“A male subject was shot and died from his injuries,” police reported in a statement.

On Monday, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the man as 29-year-old Downey resident Alberto Arenas.

No officers or residents reported injuries following the shooting, police said.

Witnesses said Arenas, who allegedly had mental health issues, was lighting fireworks in the backyard and got into an argument with a neighbor before being fatally shot by a responding officer, City News Service reported.

“Officers made several attempts to gain control and deescalate the situation,” Downey police said in a statement. “However, Arenas pointed what appeared to be a rifle at the officers. An officer involved shooting occurred and the suspect was struck by gunfire.

“It was later determined the rifle … Arenas was holding during the OIS was an air soft style rifle,” police said.

Arenas was treated by the Downey Fire Department and pronounced deceased at the scene.

Downey police reported that the California Department of Justice was handling the investigation. The state Justice Department is required to investigate all fatal shootings of unarmed civilians by law enforcement officers under a law that took effect in 2021.

Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go directly to lacrimestoppers.org.