SCENE of the shooting on Westminster Boulevard (WPD photo).

An altercation between Westminster police and a rifle-wielding man on Friday afternoon sent him to a hospital where his condition is unknown.

Police report that the incident took place around 4:30 p.m. at a motel in the 6600 block of Westminster Boulevard (east of Edwards Street). Officers were dispatched in reference to a report of a man sitting on the roof of a car in his underwear. Police dispatchers were told the man was “acting erratically” and there was “concern for his welfare.”

Arriving officers saw the man holding what looked like a rifle and yelling that “the devil” was trying to kill him. Guests in surrounding rooms in the motel were cautioned to stay in their rooms and keep away from doors and windows.

As officers made contact with the man, he pointed the rifle at them, say police. At that point the shooting took place and the man fell off the car and began walking toward the officers before collapsing.

The officers rendered first aid and Orange County Fire Authority personnel responded and transported the man to UCI Medical Center in Orange.

He was taken to surgery and as of Friday night his condition was unknown.

As is policy, the shooting is being investigated by the WPD’s Professional Standards Unit and the Orange County District Attorney’s office.