A man was in critical condition after he was shot by a probation officer, who first identified himself as a deputy, in Ontario, officials said. The man allegedly showed a knife to the officer before the shooting. Vanessa Ruiz reports for Today in LA Weekend on Saturday, May 30, 2015.
A man who police say was armed with a knife was in critical condition Saturday after being shot by an off-duty probation officer in an Ontario grocery store parking lot, officials said.
The confrontation began outside a Smart & Final in the 1300 block of East Fourth Street Friday night when a man, identified as 26-year-old Adrian Leatherman, allegedly approached a couple loading groceries into their car, Ontario police said.
Leatherman allegedly showed a knife "in a threatening manner and demanded a ride," police said.
A nearby off-duty probation officer drew his gun and ordered Leatherman to the ground, police said. Leatherman got on the ground but then "became uncooperative and struggled with the officer," police said.
The officer shot Leatherman in the upper torso, and he was in critical condition at a hospital Saturday morning, police said. The officer was not hurt.
A witness said the officer first identified himself as a sheriff's deputy before later saying he was a probation officer.
Police then got a call about a shooting in the store parking lot at about 9:40 p.m., and when they arrived, Leatherman was on the ground with a gunshot wound, and a knife was on the ground near him, police said.
News
Top news of the day
Detectives asked anyone with information to call Detective Robert Marquez at 909-395-2777.
