Suspect fatally shot by officers at Home Depot in Burbank 'wanted to shoot people,' police say

BURBANK, Calif. (KABC) -- A man killed during an officer-involved shooting at a Home Depot in Burbank Saturday told authorities he had plans to "start shooting people," police said.

Just before 4 p.m., officers with the Burbank Police Department responded to the store at 1200 S. Flower Street.

Police said the man called 911 while he was sitting inside his vehicle in the parking lot.

"[He] indicated that he was in a parked vehicle in the parking lot at Home Depot ... that man further said that he was armed with gun and that he intended to start shooting people," said Brent Fekety, the public information officer for BPD.

Fekety said the suspect even told the dispatcher what type of vehicle he was in, the color of the vehicle, and his exact location in the parking lot.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found the man sitting in his vehicle, which was described by Fekety as a van.

"A brief verbal exchange took place followed by the suspect's aggressive actions, which precipitated in an officer-involved shooting," said Fekety, who said that at one point, the suspect got out of the vehicle and "took a shooting stance" toward the officers.

Shoppers at the store watched as officers pulled into the lot.

"The police just surrounded him. It was at least a couple dozen police cars and it was really confusing," said Shan Potts.

When shoppers heard gunfire, that's when witnesses quickly ran.

"We both just ducked behind my van and then just heard a bunch of gunshots. It was pretty surreal, pretty wild," said Caleb Bigler.

Employees even helped bring customers into the store and locked the doors.

"Walking into the store and I heard, 'Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!' and I saw this guy running his little kid to the back of the store and I go, 'What's going on?' and he goes, 'They're shooting in the parking lot,'" said Chris Dreher.

Many were standing near the door as the tense scene unfolded. Some heard multiple gunshots.

"They were yelling at him to listen and at first, he put his hand up behind him and then he just chose not to anymore. It was scary," said Bigler.

The suspect was transported to Holy Cross Medical Center where he later died.

It's unclear if a weapon was found, but Fekety said that portion of the investigation is still under review.

The suspect has not yet been identified.