A Santa Monica police officer responding to an unrelated incident fatally shot a charging, knife-wielding man in Palisades Park Saturday.
The shooting occurred at 12:49 p.m. in the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. The Santa Monica Visitor Information Kiosk is located in that block of the park, between Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard, across from The Georgian hotel.
Officers had initially responded to a report of domestic violence, police said.
“While officers were interviewing witnesses, an unrelated individual armed with a knife charged at the officers,” according to an SMPD statement. “An officer discharged their firearm, striking the individual.”
Santa Monica Fire Department paramedics treated the wounded man at the scene before taking him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The involved officer was not hurt.
The SMPD did not release the man’s name, but he was believed to be in his late 40s.
A “rather large knife” was recovered at the scene, Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob told reporters during a briefing. The officer fired a single shot.
An investigation at the scene was ongoing, and the public was asked to avoid the area Saturday afternoon.