A late-night confrontation involving a man armed with a knife outside a Boyle Heights apartment complex ended in LAPD gunfire early Saturday, leaving the man hospitalized and a quiet residential street turned into an active crime scene for hours.
Police say officers tried to get the man to drop the knife, but when those commands went nowhere, at least one officer opened fire. Even after being hit, the man allegedly kept ignoring orders until officers used a 40-millimeter foam projectile to bring him under control. He was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition, and officers recovered a knife at the scene.
What police say
Officers were dispatched around 1:45 a.m. to the 3000 block of Glenn Avenue for a reported assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and as reported by NBC Los Angeles. When officers arrived, they encountered the man outside the apartment building, still armed with a knife, police said.
According to the LAPD account, the man refused repeated commands to drop the weapon and moved toward officers. At that point, at least one officer fired. No officers or bystanders were reported injured in the encounter.
Scene and arrest
CBS Los Angeles reports that after the initial shots were fired and the man was struck, he still did not comply with police commands. Officers then deployed a 40-millimeter foam round, which finally allowed them to detain him and arrange transport to the hospital.
MyNewsLA, citing City News Service, identified the apartment location as 3056 Glenn Ave. and reported that the intersection of Glenn Avenue and Dacotah Street remained closed for hours as detectives processed the scene. Authorities have not publicly released the man’s name or said what charges he might face.
Investigation and oversight
Officer-involved shootings are typically investigated by the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division, with civilian oversight from the city’s Office of the Inspector General, whose staff respond to such incidents and monitor the department’s work in real time.
The findings can be forwarded to the Los Angeles County district attorney, and some cases can also trigger scrutiny at the state level. Recently, an advisory panel recommended reviewing officers’ certifications after a separate LAPD shooting, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Less-lethal munitions and the debate
The 40-millimeter foam projectile used in this incident is part of the LAPD’s lineup of so-called less-lethal options, intended as an alternative to traditional gunfire in volatile encounters. In theory, these kinetic-impact rounds are meant to reduce the risk of fatal injuries.
In practice, they can still do serious damage. LAist has documented cases in which foam and beanbag rounds have maimed or blinded people, and has reported on calls for stricter rules around training and when such weapons can be used.
According to department materials, officers are required to document every use of these less-lethal launchers, get medical evaluations for the people struck, and follow specific criteria about when impact munitions are allowed in the field.
In the Boyle Heights shooting, detectives are still gathering evidence and reviewing body-worn camera footage, police said. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will file charges. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that portions of Glenn Avenue and Dacotah Street remained blocked off while investigators worked the scene.
