The Los Angeles Police Department Friday released preliminary details of its investigation into the fatal shooting by officers of a man suspected of waving a baseball bat, threatening passersby and hitting multiple occupied vehicles in the West Adams District.
The shooting occurred Wednesday after officers from the LAPD’s Olympic Station responded about 6:25 p.m. to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at a gas station at the intersection of Normandie Avenue and Washington Boulevard.
“The reporting party stated that the suspect, armed with a metal bat, had shattered the windows of multiple vehicles and attempted to strike passing community members,” according to an LAPD statement. “As officers approached the location, the overhead air unit advised the officers that the suspect was walking southbound on Normandie Avenue beneath the Interstate 10 (Santa Monica) Freeway.”
The man was still armed with an aluminum bat as officers arrived, exited their patrol vehicle and then ordered the suspect to drop the weapon, police said.
“The suspect refused to comply with verbal direction, continued advancing toward the officers and raised the bat with both hands into a swinging position, resulting in an officer-involved shooting,” according to the LAPD statement.
Officers took the suspect into custody and rendered aid to the wounded man, who was struck by one round, before he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, said police.
No civilians or officers were injured, police said. The bat was recovered at the scene and booked into evidence.
The stretch of Normandie in the vicinity of the shooting was closed to allow for an investigation of the shooting, which is being investigated by the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division.
The suspect’s name was withheld by the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office pending notification of his next of kin.