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TheAssociatedPress LOS ANGELES A storm that dumped rain and snow across California moved out of the sodden state Monday, leaving behind cold temper- atures, powerful winds and pounding surf. TheNationalWeatherSer- vicesaidtemperatureswould be about 10 degrees colder than normal in Southern California and would barely top 60 during the day. A high-surf advisory was in effect for San Di- ego County through Tues- day, with unpredictable waves up to 8 feet lashing the coast, accompanied by dangerous rip currents. Drivers were urged to use caution on mountain roads where gusts up to 70 mph were predicted. Higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada received 1 to 2 feet of snow Sunday, add- ing to the powder that fell last week to the delight of skiers and snowboarders, according to the National Weather Service in Reno, Nevada. "Today, it's just a few lingering show showers," weather service meteorol- ogist Dawn Johnson said. "It's winding down." Chains were required Monday on several roads leading to the Bear Moun- tain and Snow Summit re- sorts after several inches of snow fell on the San Ber- nardino Mountains. The storm that whipped up Fri- day dropped more than 6 inches at higher elevations and brought rain, hail and thunderstorms elsewhere. North of Los Angeles, a 35-mile stretch of north- bound Interstate 5 near Castaic reopened after flash flooding sent mud and rocks into lanes. Sheets of pouring rain made for treacherous driv- ing this weekend. Two par- ents were killed and their young children were in- jured when their vehicle ap- parently hydroplaned and rolled down an embank- ment during heavy rains in Alameda County on Sun- day. Fire Battalion Chief Stephanie Radecke said a 5-year-old boy and 6-year- old girl survived the crash off a freeway between Liver- more and Tracy. The boy suffered head trauma. Forecasters have said a strong El Nino weather sys- tem could drench drought- stricken California and other parts of the West in the coming months. However, Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the Na- tional Weather Service in Seattle, said he didn't be- lieve the latest storms were related to El Nino, a warm- ing in the Pacific Ocean that can alter weather world- wide. WEATHER Stormleavesbehindchillytemps,highwinds ERICRISBERG—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS High waves crash against the seawall at Fort Point with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background in San Francisco. MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Eliki Bastow, 6, visiting from Cambridge, England, watches waves crash on the municipal pier in Pacifica. By Amanda Lee Myers The Associated Press LOS ANGELES When depu- ties confronted a man car- rying a handgun in a Los Angeles suburb, the fatal shooting that unfolded was notably different from other recent flashpoints in the de- bate over police use of force: The suspect was armed and in an area crowded with people. Friends and relatives of Nicholas Robertson quickly questioned the police tac- tics that led to his death, particularly why officers fired at a person who was apparently moving away from them and why they kept firing even after he crumpled to the ground. But law-enforcement professionals said Mon- day that the shooting did not immediately appear to share much, if anything, in common with other po- lice shootings that have re- sulted in criminal charges against officers. Robertson was killed by officers Saturday after wit- nesses reported seeing a man firing a handgun into the air six or seven times and briefly going inside a car wash and a pizza parlor. Video of the shooting, re- leased by the sheriff's de- partment the next day, showed deputies firing at Robertson more than 30 times. A close-up image showed him stretched out on the pavement holding a gun. Deputies first spotted him in front of a gas sta- tion in the south Los Ange- les County suburb of Lyn- wood, where two women and three children were in- side a car. They ordered him to drop the weapon, author- ities said. Robertson refused and at one point pointed the gun in the deputies' direction, according to police. Jim Bueermann, pres- ident of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Po- lice Foundation, which is dedicated to better polic- ing, said the shooting is "as different as night and day" when compared with other recent killings, such as the slaying of Walter Scott, an unarmed South Carolina man who was shot in the back last spring as he ran away from an officer. "This guy has a gun. He's been firing it. He refuses deputies' orders to drop the gun. I think people might see some similarities, but there are distinct factual differences that people have to consider in terms of pub- lic safety." Bueermann, who was also a longtime police chief of the Redlands Po- lice Department, near San Bernardino, said the fact that Robertson was in a busy commercial area also heightened the risk. "You cannot let someone armed and firing a weapon" approach a mother with kids shopping or some guy walking along and minding his own business, he said. The police, he added, "have an obligation to peo- ple in that area to protect them." Ken Cooper, a New York- based use-of-force expert who trains police and has testified for and against of- ficers, called the shooting "absolutely justifiable." Even when Robertson is crawling away, "he's still an active threat. You can be shot to where you're about to die and still be a deadly threat." The police "want to stop that man from doing what he's doing and he's not stop- ping. He's very intent. What was in his head I guess we'll never know." When Robertson col- lapsed, "his arms were un- derneath him, and the gun was still in his hand. There was never a time when the weapon was not in his pos- session," homicide Capt. Steven Katz said Sunday. The suspect's gun was not loaded, but detectives found two live rounds "in his grasp," Katz said. The gun was not registered to Robertson and has not been reported stolen. LAW ENFORCEMENT LA police shooting different from others By Don Thompson The Associated Press SACRAMENTO A gun club owner and a gun dealer are among those telling a congressman Monday that closing loopholes in federal background checks and in- creasing mental health help would reduce gun violence. California U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, chairman of House Democrats' Gun Vio- lence Prevention Task Force, heldthehearinglessthantwo weeksafter14peoplewerefa- tally shot in San Bernardino. Gun rights proponents accused Thompson of po- liticizing the issue. He con- ducted the hearing at the state Capitol in Sacramento on the third anniversary of the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that left 20 first-graders and six educators dead, and he opened by criticizing Con- gress' inaction since then. But Thompson said he is a gun owner trying to find middle ground as he co-au- thors a House bill requir- ing nationwide background checks at gun shows and for those who buy guns from individuals online. His of- fice said the panel discus- sion was scheduled before the San Bernardino shoot- ings by a couple who au- thorities say were inspired by a foreign terror organi- zation. Thompson opposed one suggestion from gun con- trol advocates: background checks for buying ammuni- tion, as would be required under a 2016 ballot initia- tive proposed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom, a Democrat who is running for governor in 2018, also wants to ban the possession, not just the sale, of large-capacity am- munition magazines and re- quire police reports when guns are lost or stolen. Thompson said in an in- terview that he is concerned about the cost of requiring ammunition buyers to buy a license every two years. He also opposes a ban on sales to those under age 18 and said the checks could make it difficult for gun owners who live in other states to buy ammunition during vis- its to California. "Doesn't the Califor- nia Congressman want to know if a visitor from an- other state buying deadly ammo is a violent felon?" Dan Newman, a spokes- man for the ballot measure campaign, responded in an email. "Right now there is absolutely no oversight on the sale of ammunition." On background checks for buying guns, Thomp- son had support from Joe Deaser, owner of Capital Gun Club in Roseville, and Chris Kitaeff, a gun show dealer from Arizona and board member of Arizonans for Gun Safety. "This really isn't about gun control. It's about keep- ing bad people from doing dumb things," Deaser said. But Craig DeLux, an ad- vocate with the California Association of Federal Fire- arms Licensees, said even California's strict gun con- trol laws aren't enough to stop criminals, terrorists, or others willing to break the law. GUN CONTROL Mental health care would curb violence, say some at hearing RICH PEDRONCELLI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, right, leads a discussion on gun violence during a hearing in Sacramento. DAVID MARTIN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Latrice Barkus, Nicholas Robertson's aunt, facing camera, is embraced in front of the sidewalk memorial set up to honor her nephew on Sunday. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Nicholas Robertson was fatally shot by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies. | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015 8 A