Pasadena Boy Identified In Fatal Arcadia Shooting

ARCADIA, CA — Authorities Wednesday identified a 15-year-old Pasadena boy who was fatally shot by an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who opened fire when the teen and two others allegedly tried to rob him at gunpoint in Arcadia.

The shooting occurred about 8:15 p.m. Friday near First Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, according to the sheriff's department. Darrius Smith died at a hospital about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

Smith was armed with a handgun, which was recovered at the scene, when he and two 14-year-old boys tried to rob the officer as he walked along a sidewalk, the sheriff's department reported.

One of the suspects hit the officer in the head several times while the armed teen pointed a handgun at the officer and demanded his property, sheriff's Deputy Caroline Rodriguez said.

"The victim thought the subjects were going to rob and shoot him so he retrieved his department-issued handgun," Rodriguez said. "The victim shot at the subjects in an effort to defend himself."

Smith and one of the 14-year-old boys were struck by the gunfire, while the third suspect ran away when the shooting started and was not hit, according to Rodriguez.

The 14-year-old's injury was not life-threatening, sheriff's officials said.

The unharmed suspect was later located at a residence not far from the shooting scene and was booked at East Lake Juvenile Center on suspicion of robbery, Rodriguez said.

The officer, whose name was not released, suffer some bruising to his face during the attack but did not require hospitalization, authorities said.

City News Service,

Renee Schiavone Photo