FBI to investigate sheriff's deputy killing of California teen

The FBI is conducting an independent investigation after a sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a 13-year-old boy who was carrying a pellet gun that looked like an assault rifle in the Northern California city of Santa Rosa earlier this week.

Sheriff Steve Freitas issued a statement Friday afternoon saying his office will cooperate fully with federal investigators, and welcomes their participation in the probe of Andy Lopez's death. Officials said the deputies involved in the incident Tuesday have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard after a shooting. They have not been publicly identified.

The shooting has prompted protests in Santa Rosa, with many residents questioning the decision to fire on the youth. In his statement, Freitas expressed sympathy to the Lopez family and thanked the community for keeping the protests peaceful.

Law enforcement officials say Lopez was carrying a pellet gun that looked like an AK-47 assault rifle when he was shot.

A timeline released Thursday by Santa Rosa officials showed that about 10 seconds passed from the moment the sheriff's deputy and his partner called their dispatcher to report a suspicious person, to the moment they called back to say shots had been fired.

FBI spokesman Paul Lee said he did not know why his agency decided to get involved, or whether local authorities had requested its help.

More than 100 angry middle school and high school students walked to City Hall on Friday, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported. Hundreds of people protested earlier in the week.

City police and the Sonoma County district attorney's office are also investigating.

The Santa Rosa Police Department said two deputies in a squad car encountered the hoodie-wearing Lopez just after 3:14 p.m.

Witnesses said at least one of the deputies took cover behind an open front door of the cruiser, and one shouted twice to "drop the gun."

Ten seconds after their initial report to dispatch, one of the officers called in to say "shots have been fired."

Sixteen seconds later, the deputies were calling for medical help. Cruz was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Sonoma County coroner said he found seven "apparent entry wounds," two of them fatal.

Assistant Sheriff Lorenzo Duenas told the Press Democrat that the deputy who shot the teen is a 24-year veteran and his partner, who did not fire his weapon, is a new hire.

Santa Rosa Police Lt. Paul Henry told the newspaper the deputy who opened fire later told investigators he believed his life and his partner's were in jeopardy. The deputy said the teen did not comply with commands to drop the gun and was turning toward the deputies while raising the barrel.

"The deputy's mindset was that he was fearful that he was going to be shot," Henry said Wednesday at a news conference.

The Associated Press