Authorities Monday released the name of an allegedly knife-wielding homeless man who was fatally shot when two sheriff’s deputies opened fire on him during an encounter at the Metrolink station in Lancaster that left one of the deputies with a stab wound.
The deputies responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon at 2:05 p.m. Saturday at the station near Sierra Highway and Lancaster Boulevard, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to City News Service.
The man, later identified by the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office as 23-year-old Robert Castro, was armed with at least one knife and a deputy was stabbed, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
The wounded deputy opened fire and “moments later” a second deputy also shot at the suspect, department officials said.
Both Castro and the wounded deputy were taken by ambulance to hospitals, where the suspect was pronounced dead and the deputy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, sheriff’s officials said.
“We are grateful that our deputy sustained non-life-threatening injuries and will be returning home to their loved ones,” Sheriff Robert G. Luna said. “Incidents like this are a stark reminder that every day, law enforcement professionals like our deputies step into unpredictable and rapidly evolving situations in service to protecting our communities.”
Under state law, the shooting is under investigation by the California Department of Justice as well as the sheriff’s homicide and internal affairs bureaus.
Anyone with information was urged to contact state investigators at 916-210-2841. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.