Suspect shot by police in Palm Springs taken to hospital; condition unknown

Palm Springs Police are on scene investigating an officer involved shooting near downtown. The shooting happened just after 1:30 p.m. in the 400 block of South Palm Canyon Drive.

Sgt. Hutchinson briefed the media about an hour later, stating that they got a call around 1:00 p.m. that a man was acting out in the Rite Aid parking lot. When they got on scene an altercation occurred and shots were fired.

Cody White, a witness on scene, told us that he was the man who called police to report the suspicious behavior. White says “the suspect was yelling racial slurs and reaching for his waistband.”

“When police got on scene, the suspect again reached for his waistband, that is when police fired.” White says that he heard at least two shots.

The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated. No word on his conditions, but police say that no officers were injured during the altercation.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is taking over the investigation, which is standard procedure for officer involved shootings.

Check back for updates.