Knife Wielding Suspect Stabs Officer

Los Angeles: A Los Angeles police officer shot a suspect who had stabbed him with a knife.

On Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at around 4:00 AM, Officer Joseph Cruz and his partner were in full uniform and were conducting transient problems in the 1400 block of Curson Avenue. The officers observed a figure lying in the shadow of an apartment building behind some bushes. The officers walked up to investigate and made contact with the suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Mohammed Usman Chaudry.

As the officers questioned Chaudry’s presence at the apartment building, Chaudry pulled out a folding knife and stabbed Officer Cruz on the left hand causing a laceration. Officer Cruz fired his duty weapon. Chaudry was struck several times in the chest and collapsed to the ground.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel pronounced Chaudry dead at the scene.

Officer Cruz was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center when he was treated for a laceration and released. He has been with the Department for three years and three months.

Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the Officer-Involved Shooting.