A man wielding a knife and a crowbar is dead after a confrontation with his neighbors and police officers, as well as killing a dog, last weekend, according to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
On Saturday, Nov. 1, shortly before 4pm, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Cherry Avenue regarding a possible armed residential robbery. Preliminary information reported the suspect was a neighbor and he was armed with a knife.
Upon their arrival, officers were directed to a possible location of the suspect. Officers made contact with him when he was still armed with a knife. He was non-compliant with the officers’ commands and tried to attack them several times with the knife and a crowbar, police said. Defending themselves, the officers discharged their weapons, the suspect was hit, and he died at the scene, according to the LBPD. Officers were not injured, and they recovered the knife and crowbar.
The investigation of the incident determined that the suspect was a male adult neighbor of the victims for approximately 10 years. For reasons unknown, the suspect had forced his way into the victims’ residence armed with a knife and a crowbar. The victims, in fear of being assaulted, were able to run from the residence and call police before the suspect could attack them, police said. Once the suspect entered the residence, he killed the victims’ small dog and proceeded to vandalize the victims’ property. The suspect also lit a fire inside the residence.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will make identification of the suspect, according to the LBPD.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation of the shooting, as they do with all officer-involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County that result in injury or death.
Those with information regarding the incident are urged to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Malcolm Evans and Shea Robertson at (562) 570-7244. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus their tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit LACrimeStoppers.org .
Source: LBPD
