Knife Wielding Suspect Triggers Officer-Involved Shooting

"Knife Wielding Suspect Triggers Officer-Involved Shooting"

Los Angeles: Today, at approximately 1:50 a.m., four Los Angeles Police Department uniformed officers, assigned to Rampart Patrol Division, responded to an apartment complex in the 600 block of Shatto Place, in response to a Domestic Violence-related radio call. Upon arrival, the officers responded to an apartment on the 3rd floor and met with the person reporting (PR). The PR advised the officers that her ex-boyfriend had been banging and kicking on her door, demanding entrance. He subsequently made entrance to the apartment and took property belonging to her. The PR advised the officers that she was in possession of a restraining order, issued by the court against her ex-boyfriend for being physically abusive to her.
The PR directed the officers to an apartment down the hall where she believed the suspect was. The officers responded and after repeated attempts, were able to gain access to the apartment. As the door opened, the officers observed the suspect to be in possession of a knife. The officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the knife. The suspect refused to comply and instead, responded by uttering words to the effect, "Shoot me. . . Shoot me. . ." The suspect advanced toward the officers in a threatening manner. Officer Arthur Bedard (Serial No. 26939, 34 years old, 13 years with the Department) and Officer Edwin Dominguez (Serial No. 31215, 37 years old, 8 years with the Department) became fearful for their lives and fired rounds at the suspect, using their service pistols. The suspect fell to the ground. The weapon was recovered at the scene. According to several witnesses, they repeatedly heard the officers yelling at the suspect to drop the knife. Some witnesses stated that they sensed the intensity level of the officers’ commands increasing, indicative of an increasing threat.
Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced the suspect dead. The suspect is a 22 year-old male White. His identity is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing and is being handled by Robbery Homicide and Critical Incident Investigation Divisions.
This release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank, Officer in Charge, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.