In-Custody Death Olympic Division NRF022-24bb

April 30, 2024 

In-Custody Death Olympic Division

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an In-Custody Death (ICD) from an incident that occurred in Olympic Division.

On March 26, 2024, at around 2:40 p.m., Olympic Division uniformed officers responded to a radio call of a “Screaming Woman” at an apartment in the 3900 block of Wilshire Boulevard. When officers arrived at the location, they were directed to the victim, who was bleeding profusely from a large laceration to her neck.

The victim identified the suspect who stabbed her and advised the officers that the suspect barricaded himself in the apartment. The officers attempted to communicate with the suspect from outside the apartment; however, he refused to exit and repeatedly stated, “Go away.” The officers then requested the resources of Metropolitan Division’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), who responded to the scene and began negotiating with the suspect to surrender. After a several-hour standoff, SWAT deployed chemical agents into the apartment while continuously giving orders to surrender.

The suspect refused to exit, and the decision was made for SWAT officers to make entry into the apartment. Once inside the apartment, SWAT officers located the suspect, who was bleeding from a self-inflicted stab wound to the abdomen and was taken into custody without incident. The suspect was immediately transported to a local hospital due to the serious nature of the injury to his abdomen.

On April 29, 2024, the suspect, while still receiving care, was pronounced deceased by hospital staff. A Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner autopsy and notifications to the next of kin are pending.

Force Investigation Division (FID) investigators responded to the hospital and are investigating this incident.