US police shoot homeless man dead in Los Angeles

A video has captured the moment US police shot and killed a homeless man after an altercation in central Los Angeles.

The graphic film shows a violent struggle between the man and several officers in the city's Skid Row area.

As the police try to subdue him, a voice is heard shouting "Drop the gun!" Seconds later, five gunshots ring out.

Police have yet to confirm whether the man was armed.

Skid Row has a large homeless population.

Police spokesman Sgt Barry Montgomery told the LA Times newspaper that officers had been responding to reports of a robbery in the area.

He declined to say how many officers had been involved in the incident but confirmed that none had been injured. He did not identify the dead man.

The police department said officers had attempted to use a Taser to subdue the suspect but he had "continued fighting and resisting".

LA police commander Andrew Smith said that at some point there had been a struggle over one of the officer's weapons.

No other gun was recovered at the scene, he told the LA Times.

Police would have been allowed to use deadly force if the man had a weapon.