LAPD Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Boyle Heights
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police officers were involved in a shooting on Saturday morning after a suspect allegedly threw a knife at them while also armed with a second knife and a grilling fork, according to authorities.
The incident began around 1:45 a.m. When officers responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in progress at a residence in the 3000 block of Glenn Avenue in Boyle Heights. Upon arrival, officers were met outside the residence by a family member of the suspect.
Escalation of the Encounter
According to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department, 40-year-old Robert Velasquez emerged from the residence while armed with two knives and a grilling fork. Although officers issued verbal commands for Velasquez to drop the weapons, he did not comply. Velasquez then threw one of the knives in the direction of the officers, which resulted in an officer-involved shooting.
The department reported that Velasquez fell to the ground but attempted to get back to his feet while still holding the knife and the grilling fork, resulting in a second officer-involved shooting. After being struck by gunfire, Velasquez collapsed; however, he reportedly refused to submit to arrest, sitting up and moving toward the front door of the residence. This prompted the use of an intermediate force option, after which Velasquez was taken into custody and brought to a hospital.
Significance and Investigation
The incident is significant due to the rapid escalation of the encounter, which transitioned from a reported assault to two separate officer-involved shootings and the use of intermediate force as the suspect allegedly continued to brandish weapons.
Police stated that the knives and the grilling fork were recovered at the scene and that no one else was injured. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is currently investigating the incident, an inquiry that may provide further clarity on the circumstances of the shooting.
