LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A homeless man allegedly shot by police in Los Angeles was a French national and convicted criminal, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The newspaper identified the man, killed Sunday in an incident which triggered protests, as 39-year old Charley Saturmin Robinet.

It cited law enforcement records as saying Robinet was convicted of armed robbery 15 years ago and jailed.

LA police chief Charlie Beck said Monday that the victim, who police have not identified, tried to grab a gun from one of four officers who were trying to restrain him on the city's Skid Row homeless district.

The killing was caught on amateur video that went viral, triggering widespread criticism of police tactics.

On Tuesday morning dozens of people attended a protest outside LA police headquarters to condemn the killing.

Representatives for the LA County Coroner's Office and the French consulate did not immediate return calls seeking confirmation or comment.