Protesters, family demand justice for amputee stunned, shot by police in California

Protests built in a community near Los Angeles over the weekend, the response to the shooting death of a man shot and killed by police last month.

Anthony Lowe Jr., a 36-year-old, wheelchair-bound double amputee, was suspected of stabbing another person on Jan. 26, before police used a stun gun and shot him about 10 times.

According to police, Lowe "threatened to advance or throw the knife at the officers."

The video of him trying to make his escape as officers point their guns is difficult to watch. He appears to be holding a large knife. Gunshots are audible on the video, but a police vehicle obscures the moment that Lowe falls.

"What's really heartbreaking is that you can tell that he was in fear for his life. You know, he had no legs. It could have been handled any other way," said Ebonique Simon, who shares a 15-year-old son with Lowe.

More video, including what led up to the shooting, is expected to be released this week.

Protesters are questioning why Huntington Park police felt it was necessary to kill Lowe, and his family says they will file a lawsuit against the police department and the city.

"The way they killed my son, they murdered my son in a wheelchair with no legs," said Dorothy Lowe. "They do need to do something about it. Because I do, I want justice for my son."

Lowe's family says he suffered from mental health issues due to his double amputation, which the family tells NBC News happened last year after an encounter with Texas police, though they aren't sure of the details.

Lowe's cousin, Ellakenyada Gorum, said, "They refuse to give everything we need to know what really happened to him. He was not homeless. He was loved. ... He was in a wheelchair. What more could he do? What more could he do?"

The Huntington Park Police Department says the officers involved are now on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure. An investigation is underway.