Long Beach Police Fatally Shoot Suicidal Knife Wielding Man

On September 4, 2016 at approximately 9:15 p.m., officers from the Long Beach Police Department were dispatched to a call of an armed suicidal man in the 1600 block of Obispo Avenue. The male 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. Officers requested additional resources including the Air Support Unit and a Mental Evaluation Team.

As the officer’s 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 10:15 p.m. 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 the knife. The subject failed to follow the officer’s orders and subsequently charged at them while still armed with the knife and an officer involved shooting occurred.

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.

A large knife was recovered at the scene.

Identification of the suspect will be made by the Los Angeles County Coroner. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office is conducting its own independent investigation as to the cause of death.

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.

The Long Beach Homicide Detail investigates all officer involved shootings. This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is 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 your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting http://www.lacrimestoppers.org/.