On Sunday, Sept. 4, at approximately 9:15pm, officers were dispatched to a call of an armed suicidal man in the 1600 block of Obispo Avenue. The caller said he wanted to commit “suicide by cop” and said he was armed with a handgun.
Officers responded, set up a containment and started to devise a plan to deal with the suicidal subject. They requested additional resources, including the Air Support Unit and a Mental Evaluation Team.
As the officers’ plan was evolving, they received updated information from the Air Support Unit that the subject was acting agitated and citizens in the neighborhood were in close proximity to him. At approximately 10:15pm, a team of officers that included an officer from the Mental Evaluation Team proceeded to the subject’s location to begin verbal negotiations. The subject was armed with a large knife and was given numerous verbal commands to drop it, police said.
“The subject failed to follow the officers’ orders and subsequently charged at them while still armed with the knife, and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” police said. “The subject was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. Officers immediately started performing life-saving measures until Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived. The subject was determined deceased at the scene by Long Beach Fire.”
The knife was recovered at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Coroner will identify the man and is conducting an independent investigation as to the cause of death.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and Long Beach Homicide Detail are conducting their own independent investigations of the shooting, as well.
Those with information regarding the incident are encouraged to call homicide detectives at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the P3 Tips app to a smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play) or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
Source: LBPD
