INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Inglewood police killed one man and wounded another when they opened fire on a vehicle, saying they believed the occupants had shot at them -- although it turned out that the men were unarmed and their car was never struck with bullets.

Video: Police Kill Unarmed Man
Video: News Conference | Images

Two officers were in the area of Crenshaw Boulevard and 85th Street at 1:40 a.m. Sunday when they said they heard gunshots coming from the parking lot of a Rally's Restaurant, said Inglewood police Sgt. Jeff Steinhoff.

"We have independent witnesses who gave us information that there were shots that were fired," said Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks at a late morning news conference. "The officers heard shots fired as they were on patrol."

Seabrooks said they saw a male running from the scene. The man got into a vehicle, which moved slowly through the parking lot in the 3000 block of Manchester Boulevard, said Inglewood police Sgt. Hector Ramirez.

"They went to follow up on that, and unfortunately a vehicle was being driven at them," Seabrooks said. "They heard additional shots at that time."

The officers said they felt something strike their patrol vehicle and reported hearing gunshots that they thought came from the car, Ramirez said. Seabrooks said there was no indication that the officers' vehicle was struck by gunfire.

Both officers then fired multiple shots into the suspects' vehicle, hitting two of its three occupants, Ramirez said. The car stopped directly across from them, he said.

Michael Woods Byoune, 19, of Los Angeles, a passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene, said coroner's Lt. John Kades.

A second occupant -- the driver, the Los Angeles Times reported -- was taken to an area hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was in stable condition and expected to survive, Ramirez said.

The third person in the car was unharmed, Ramirez said.

Seabrooks said the department is investigating the case, and the Los Angeles District Attorney's office is conducting a separate investigation.

"I am very sorry," Seabrooks said. "My condolences go out to the family. If it turns out that the Inglewood Police Department could do something better, you can rest assured we would."

Neither officer was hurt. No weapons were recovered "at this time" and no one was immediately charged with a crime, Seabrooks said.

She said investigators were processing the vehicle late Monday morning.

Seabrooks said one officer has been with the force for 5 1/2 years, and the other officer has been with the department for less than one year. She said both officers were on administrative leave.

Vidal Garcia, a night manager at Rally's -- about 30 yards from where the officers opened fire -- told the newspaper he "heard lots of gunshots" and was surprised police didn't find any weapons "because there were gunshots before the cops even got there."

Another Rally's employee told The Times he saw only the police taking out their guns, that he and two co-workers ducked as soon as they heard gunfire, and that he heard screaming after more than 15 shots.

He said recalled hearing someone say, "Oh, I can't breathe" and "I'm not armed," The Times reported.

The wounded man's brother called for stricter guidelines on circumstances in which police can open fire.

"They should have certain rules and guidelines that they go by, as far as, you know, just coming and just shooting without saying anything. I mean, come on now, that's just, that's just, that's ludicrous," Issac Williams told the TV station.

Williams' younger brother was shot in the leg. He and his friends had gone out for hamburgers, the TV station reported.

Byoune's family told reporters he was not a gang member and did not have a criminal record. His mother, Jackie Roberts, 55, said her son had never been to jail and was not involved in violence or gangs.

"He gave me flowers and stuff," Roberts said. "He's never been to jail. He's never been in trouble. Never."

Police asked anyone with information about the case to call (888) 412-7463.