Woman armed with fake gun and sprayed with gas by police in Southern California

FILE – In this undated image, a Long Beach Police Department Centennial Badge and patch are shown. (Long Beach Police Department)

A Long Beach woman armed with what police describe as a “replica firearm” was shot and gassed by authorities earlier this week after an hours-long standoff, authorities said.

The June 16 incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. at an apartment building in the 1000 block of Long Beach Boulevard after Long Beach police received reports of a woman with a gun, a Long Beach police news release said.

When the woman saw the officers arriving, she fled and barricaded herself in her apartment.

At one point during the standoff, police said, the suspect opened her front door and pointed what appeared to be a firearm, prompting police officers to shoot her.

SWAT officers then arrived at the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation.

“After four hours of unsuccessful attempts to reach them, SWAT officers deployed gas,” the press release states. “The suspect then surrendered and was taken into custody.”

The woman, who was struck in the upper body by police gunfire, was taken to the hospital in stable condition by Long Beach Fire Department medical personnel.

Investigators later found the replica of the firearm on site.

LBPD officials said they would review footage from the officers’ body-worn cameras and “make it available to the public as soon as possible.”

“The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent investigation into the incident, as it does in all police-involved shootings that result in injury or death,” officials added.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Eric Thai or Kelsey Myers of the LBPD Homicide Unit at 562-570-7244. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers tip line at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.