34-Year-Old Jesse Dominguez Fatally Shot by California Highway Patrol Officer on Los Angeles Freeway

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : LOS ANGELES — A 34-year-old man was tragically killed on Sunday after being shot by a California Highway Patrol officer. The incident occurred on Interstate 105 in Los Angeles County, where the highway had been shut down due to reports of a man walking on the freeway. The victim, identified as Jesse Dominguez, was armed with a stun gun at the time of the confrontation.

Dominguez, a resident of Los Angeles, was rushed to the hospital following the altercation but succumbed to his injuries. The Los Angeles County coroner’s report has yet to disclose the official cause of death. The identity of the officer involved in Sunday’s shooting has not been released as of late Tuesday afternoon.

The family of Jesse Dominguez is grappling with the shock and grief of his “unnecessary death,” according to a statement from his stepmother, Akasha Dominguez. She expressed the family’s need to mourn their loss and conveyed their difficulty in processing the tragic events.

Eyewitnesses captured the incident on video, which has since circulated on social media. The footage shows the highway patrol officer engaging in a physical struggle with Dominguez before firing a fatal shot at close range. According to the highway patrol, the officer resorted to lethal force after being attacked with the stun gun.

Ed Obayashi, a former California police officer and sheriff’s deputy who specializes in use-of-force analysis, explained that officers may perceive stun guns as highly dangerous weapons. He emphasized the potential threat posed by such devices and the risk of an officer having their own weapon seized.

Obayashi did raise questions regarding the officer’s decision to confront Dominguez alone, considering that the freeway had been cleared and there appeared to be no immediate danger. He suggested that maintaining a safe distance and attempting to de-escalate the situation would have been more appropriate.

“The problem is if I got distance between an individual with a stun gun and myself, then there’s an opportunity to de-escalate, an opportunity to retreat,” Obayashi stated. “That side of the 105 was shut down, so there’s no danger to anyone. My question would be what compelled this officer to approach this individual? There’s a zillion cops here, so I don’t know why this cop was by himself and approaching this individual. That’s going to be a fundamental question.”

The incident has sparked concerns surrounding police tactics and the use of force. Law enforcement agencies often consult experts like Obayashi to investigate officer-involved shootings and ensure proper protocols are followed.

As investigations into the incident continue, the community mourns the loss of Jesse Dominguez and seeks answers regarding the circumstances that led to his untimely death.

Andrew Blankstein reported from Los Angeles and David K. Li from New York City.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com..