Both Lee and the officer who shot him were black, Parks said, and things happened so quickly that the officer had no option but to fire. Anthony Dwain Lee was a very talented actor. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Witnesses told reporters that Lee saw a light shining at him, apparently thought it was a joke, and joked back by pointing his fake gun at the light. Hopper fired several rounds and hit Lee, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hopper is now on paid leave, which is standard procedure for officers involved in shootings.
He has been on the force for three years. The shooting comes at a particularly bad time for the LAPD, which has been hit with a series of controversies this year. More than 30 officers have lost their jobs and more than 100 convictions have been overturned because of a corruption and brutality scandal involving officers of the police's anti-gang squad at the Rampart Division. Police there have been accused of framing and beating suspects. The federal government has accused the department of engaging in a pattern of abusive behavior.