Police in Los Angeles shot 14-year-old boy after he started shooting at police officers.

Police responded to a call in the area to the East of the city centre, about 5:35 p.m. to investigate an act of vandalism. There they came across 2 young people. One escaped and 2 police officers followed after him.

One of the witnesses says he saw how the young man fired a pistol in the direction of the pursuing police officers - said the Deputy chief of police Los Angeles Robert Arcos during a press conference.

The teenager, identified as Jesse James Romero from the County of Los Angeles, was declared dead at the scene. The other suspect was questioned and released. Neither officer was hurt, but they heard the shots, when I rounded the corner, said Arcos. One of the officers then returned fire and killed Romero, said Arcos. The investigators will examine the gun for fingerprints and DNA, as well as watch the video from the cameras from the scene. Arcos said the vandalism was linked to criminal activity gangs, Romero was in a gang.

The Romero family does not believe the police reports, according to CNN-affiliate KABC-TV. Romero's mother, choking back tears, said that her son was a good kid, and she has no idea why police shot and killed him.

The use of weapons by police have come under stricter controls, across the country, including in California, after the video raised questions about the legality of some of the shootings and other videos that helped to exonerate officers.
sections: World News, Accidents, Accidents