Teenager shot dead by police after his 'toy' gun is mistaken for loaded rifle

This is the shocking moment a 19-year-old with an airsoft gun was fatally shot by police after calling 911.

Luis Herrera, 19, called the police on September 17 to get them to come to his home - after claiming he was being hit by his drunk dad who was allegedly beating his mum too.

Two Los Angeles officers arrived to the home around 1.20pm after being called to a domestic violence incident.

When they arrived at the door the teenager, who was dressed in all black with “what appeared to be a black rifle", answered, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

In the bodycam footage one of the officers is heard instructing Luis to put the object down as he shouts: “Hey! Hey! Hey! Put that down!”

The officers arrived at around 1.20pm to calls of a domestic violence incident (LAPD)

Luis refuses to listen to the instruction and instead keeps the rifle in his hand which leads to the officers moving around the corner of the house.

In a statement, Los Angeles Police Department said: “Herrera shouldered the rifle and pointed it at the officers, resulting in an (officer-involved shooting)."

The teen was then subjected to multiple shots of gunfire leading to him falling to the ground.

An officer asks Luis to put the weapon down as he answers the door after phoning 911 (LAPD)

However, he was still holding onto the rifle as he wriggled around in pain as his parents looked on.

The police officer repeatedly demanded Luis let go of the gun as the teenager's mum can be heard screaming in terror as she shouted: “That’s my son!”

She can be heard adding: "It's a toy."

Luis' dad can be seen trying to approach him but he was ordered back into the house by the officer.

Shots were then fired at Luis as he fell to the ground holding the gun (LAPD)

The teenager was handcuffed while bleeding heavily and was later pronounced dead.

Police confirmed the rifle was in fact an airsoft gun and Luis had another fake gun in the house which resembled a Glock pistol.

Following the revelation of the fake gun, a further investigation found there was no evidence of domestic violence between the two parents - despite Luis claiming there was on the 911 calls.

The airsoft gun which Luis was holding as he answered the door (LAPD)

The officer who fired the shots has been identified as Luis Navarrete, who has been put on administrative leave.

Los Angeles Force Investigation Division is investigating the tragic shooting.

It will be up up to the chief of police, the Board of Police Commissioners and the Office of the Inspector General to decide whether the use of deadly force was justified.