Marina del Rey Costco Employee Killed in Police Confrontation

Sheriff deputies fatally shot a Marina del Rey Costco employee on Saturday that they believed to be armed.

Deputies attempted to pull over a vehicle at about 10:18 p.m. on Saturday in the 1900 block of East 122nd St. in Los Angeles, but the driver sped away. The police followed the vehicle until it came to an abrupt stop. The driver and the passenger, Jose de la Trinidad, 32, a Marina del Rey Costco employee at the Culver City Costco store on the Marina del Rey/Culver City border, exited the vehicle.

Trinidad raised his arms from his waistband, and believing he was armed, the two deputies fired their weapons, according to the L.A. Sheriff’s Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according Lt. Dave Coleman, of the Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff Deputies then pursued the driver of the vehicle as he drove away from the scene. He crashed his car at El Segundo and Avalon boulevards and then fled on foot but was apprehended by police.

No weapons have been recovered, and there is no information at this time as to why the suspects were evading police.

Culver City/Marina del Rey Costco General Manager Greg Carter confirmed that Trinidad was an employee but said he was not at liberty to further discuss the issue.