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73-year-old killed by police had crucifix but no gun

In this photo provided by The Bakersfield Californian, activist Dolores Huerta, center, speaks at a candlelight vigil for Francisco Serna, 73, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, in Bakersfield, Calif. From right are Serna's son Frank Serna, wife Rubia Serna and son Roy Serna. Serna was shot and killed by a Bakersfield, Calif., police officer near his home early Monday. Police Chief Lyle Martin said Tuesday that the unarmed Serna refused to take his hand out of his pocket when he was shot by an officer who thought he had a gun. Serna's family said he suffers from dementia and he often took walks in the evening. (Felix Adamo/The Bakersfield Californian via AP)
In this photo provided by The Bakersfield Californian, activist Dolores Huerta, center, speaks at a candlelight vigil for Francisco Serna, 73, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, in Bakersfield, Calif. From right are Serna's son Frank Serna, wife Rubia Serna and son Roy Serna. Serna was shot and killed by a Bakersfield, Calif., police officer near his home early Monday. Police Chief Lyle Martin said Tuesday that the unarmed Serna refused to take his hand out of his pocket when he was shot by an officer who thought he had a gun. Serna's family said he suffers from dementia and he often took walks in the evening. (Felix Adamo/The Bakersfield Californian via AP)

By Associated Press 2 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A 73-year-old man with dementia fatally shot by police had a crucifix – not a gun, as officers were led to believe, Bakersfield police said Wednesday.

A coroner found the plastic crucifix on Francisco Serna well after an officer fatally shot him near his home just after midnight Monday, Sgt. Gary Carruesco said.

It’s unclear if a 911 caller who had reported a man with a gun may have mistaken the crucifix for a weapon, as Serna’s family speculated.

Officer Reagan Selman fired at Serna seven times after the grandfather refused repeated commands to take his hand out of his pocket and stop walking toward police, incoming Bakersfield police Chief Lyle Martin said Tuesday.

In addition to the 911 caller, Martin said two people who had encountered Serna hours before the shooting thought he was armed.