A man was shot by Orange County deputies on Saturday morning after allegedly brandishing a knife in Laguna Hills. CBS News reports that the incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. near Ridge Route Drive and Moulton Park. The encounter followed a call to authorities about a disturbance in the area.
Identified as armed with a knife when deputies arrived on scene, the man was involved in a shooting by deputies, the circumstances of which remain unclear. The Orange County Sheriff's Department said in a post, "Deputies encountered a male subject armed with a knife and a deputy-involved shooting occurred." Suffering from the resulting gunfire, the man was transported to a hospital and is currently listed in critical condition.
No injuries were reported among the deputies or bystanders, setting apart the isolated nature of the event. The Orange County Sheriff's Department confirms that the situation was contained to the male subject with two knives, who was spotted in a commercial parking lot by multiple callers to the sheriff's department.
A statement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department indicated, "Deputies in Laguna Hills are equipped with body-worn cameras. Relevant audio and video from the incident will be released in accordance with the law and in consultation with the Orange County District Attorney's Office." Their claim was also supported by medical aid provided to the male subject at the scene before his critical condition prompted the transport of him to the hospital.
As per standard procedure, the Orange County District Attorney's Office is set to lead the investigation into the deputy-involved shooting. The release of the body camera footage is pending, to provide further details into the incident that has sparked another round of scrutiny over law enforcement's use of force.
