Officer Shoots Man Armed With Pellet Gun

A Los Angeles police officer shot and critically wounded a man who was waving a realistic-looking pellet gun Wednesday near the Federal Building in the Civic Center, authorities said.

Police said the officer responded to a report of a man with a gun near Los Angeles and Temple streets at 9 p.m. “The man was waving the gun and threatened him with it,” said Capt. Patrick McKinley. “The officer fired one shot.”

The man, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition, police said. A possible pellet gun that “looks very realistic” was found at the scene, McKinley said.