Man Shot And Killed By Security Outside Scientology Building

 

A man was shot and killed on Sunday outside one of the many Scientology buildings in Hollywood, The Scientology Celebrity Centre, after swinging around two swords at the security guards.

Police say the man, who had some involvement with the church in the past,  showed up at around noon in a red convertible, approached three guards and began waving two samurai swords. The guards took it seriously and one of them killed the man with a semi-automatic handgun.

Detectives had questioned the guards to determine whether the shooting was justified, told The Associated Press:

“The evidence itself, it’s very, very clear. The security officers were defending their safety.”

Detective Wendi Berndt told The Los Angeles Times that the man — who was in his 40s — was involved with the church a long time ago.

“There was a previous relationship,” Berndt said, “but it is unclear to what degree.”

A teenager who saw the man arrive in the parking lot told The Times that he stopped the car abruptly in the driveway and climbed out with a 5-foot sword in his hand and an angry expression on his face.

A surveillance tape captured the incident.