Video released by the Los Angeles Police Department on Thursday shows a standoff in Boyle Heights that ended with officers fatally shooting a man — a killing that has since been denounced by his family and local activists.
What we know so far:
Jeremy Flores, 26, was shot and killed by police on the morning of July 14.
According to LAPD, Hollenbeck Division officers responded around 8:30 a.m. to a report of a man armed with a “possible assault rifle” near the corner of 8th and Spence streets.
When officers arrived, they encountered a man sitting inside a van. Police shot him during the standoff.
The LAPD later confirmed Flores was not carrying a rifle but was armed with an Airsoft rifle.
Flores was pronounced dead at the scene.
The department has identified officers who shot Flores as Livier Jimenez, Fernando Godinez and Michael Ruiz.
What the community is saying
The killing has sparked protests, including one at Hollenbeck’s National Night Out event.
Family and activists have questioned why police left Flores without medical help for two hours. They’ve also called the LAPD’s account “misleading,” saying claims that he was resisting and refused to exit the vehicle ignore the fact that he was unresponsive and gravely wounded.
Centro CSO, a grassroots organizing group based in Boyle Heights, immediately called for the release of all body camera footage by the LAPD, in addition to a thorough investigation into the shooting.
Paola Mendez, Flores’ fiancée, felt “shattered” after viewing the bodycam video that left her with more questions than answers.
“From what we’ve seen in other footage that others shared with us in the neighborhood, doesn’t justify what they’re stating in their statement in their footage,” Mendez said. “Nowhere in the video does it show Jeremy pointing anything at anyone.”
Mendez feels that the officers who shot Flores should be suspended from active duty.
“They don’t care. Now, we’re just gonna keep fighting. We’re going to demand justice and we’re going to keep moving forward, because this is unacceptable, and they need to take accountability for their actions,” Mendez said.
At an Aug. 19 LAPD Board of Police Commissioners meeting, Flores’ mother, Isabella Rivera, pleaded with officials to fully investigate her son’s killing.
“I just want justice for my son,” she said. “Nobody wants to call LAPD anymore because we are scared of them. There’s too much violence so somebody has to check on them. Somebody has to do something, please, please from the bottom of my heart. I ask you, please check my boy’s case. His life counts like everybody else.”
What the footage shows
This video contains scenes of violence.
Bodycam footage shows two LAPD officers arriving with a handgun and rifle drawn.
“Drop the gun mother—,” one officer says. Another shouts, “Drop the gun or you’re going to get shot.”
They repeatedly command Flores to exit the utility van and come out with his hands up. One officer calls for backup, reporting that Flores is armed with a rifle, while the other says he sees Flores “reaching for that weapon.”
After more commands, including “Don’t do it,” both officers open fire one minute and eight seconds after exiting their squad car. At least one officer from a second responding unit down the block appears to fire into the vehicle, as well.
“I got you covered. He was honestly pointing at you and your partner,” one of the officers says, advising the responding officers to approach with a shield. “Get out of the line of fire. He has an MP5 or something like that.”
One officer calls for an ambulance for Flores.
Flores can be seen slumped over in the driver’s seat, still and bloody, with the Airsoft gun that officers mistook for a real weapon resting on his lap. He was unresponsive.
When SWAT arrives, they deploy a drone to assess through Flores’ broken passenger-side window. SWAT removes the Airsoft gun and then Flores from the van.
“Don’t bother handcuffing,” one officer says as Flores is laid face down on the asphalt. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel declared him dead at the scene.
What happens next?
The California Department of Justice is still investigating the case.
Over the next several months, the LAPD will continue to investigate and analyze the shooting, interview witnesses, and complete forensic tests. According to Lt. Bruce Coss, the investigation may take up to a year to complete.
Once it’s complete, the findings will go to the Chief of Police who will make a recommendation to the Board of Police Commissioners to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified.
The Office of the Inspector General will conduct its own independent review and provide its own recommendations to the board.
This story was updated at 6:17 p.m. on August 28, 2025, to include additional details from the footage released.
