Bodycam Shows Officers Opening Fire On Man Armed With Machete

 

On July 16, 2019, at approximately 6:43 p.m., uniformed patrol officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division responded to a disturbance call regarding a man reportedly armed with a knife. The call led officers to a residence in the 300 block of North Commonwealth Avenue, located in Los Angeles. This call was dispatched as a potential threat involving a weapon, prompting a swift and cautious response from the officers.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers were directed to the rear bedroom of the apartment where the suspect, later identified as 49-year-old Herbert Vasquez, was located. The officers attempted to communicate with Vasquez in order to de-escalate the situation peacefully. Despite multiple attempts, Vasquez refused to exit the bedroom and did not comply with the officers' verbal commands. Given the nature of the call and the uncooperative behavior of the suspect, officers made the decision to open the bedroom door in order to further assess the situation and maintain control.

As soon as the bedroom door was opened, Vasquez was seen holding a large machete and immediately advanced toward the officers in what was perceived as a threatening and aggressive manner. In response to the imminent danger posed by the armed suspect, an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) occurred. At the same time, officers deployed a less-lethal option in an effort to subdue Vasquez without resorting to deadly force. The combination of tactics, however, did not immediately stop Vasquez, who fled the apartment through a window in the rear of the building.

After escaping through the window, Vasquez ran westbound away from Commonwealth Avenue and entered a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store. The officers quickly established a perimeter around the store to contain the suspect and ensure the safety of the public and store employees. Once the location was secured, officers attempted to communicate with Vasquez once again. Despite being surrounded and facing law enforcement, Vasquez remained defiant and continued to ignore commands to surrender peacefully.

Recognizing the continued risk posed by the armed suspect and in an effort to bring the incident to a close without further violence, officers employed a second less-lethal device. This tactical decision proved effective, as it helped to disorient Vasquez, allowing the officers to safely move in and take him into custody without further resistance or additional force.

Once in custody, officers observed that Vasquez had sustained injuries to the fingers on both of his hands. At the time, it was unclear whether these injuries were the result of the Officer-Involved Shooting or occurred by other means during the incident. The Los Angeles Fire Department was called to the scene, and paramedics provided medical treatment before transporting Vasquez to a local hospital for further evaluation and care.

Following standard procedures, a knife was recovered at the scene and booked as evidence related to the case. The investigation into the use of force and the actions of the suspect continued as part of LAPD protocol. Importantly, no officers were injured during the confrontation, and there were no reports of harm to bystanders or individuals inside the 7-Eleven store.

This incident highlights the complexities and dangers faced by law enforcement officers when responding to calls involving armed individuals. The officers involved utilized a combination of lethal and less-lethal force options to address the threat while prioritizing public safety and attempting to minimize harm. The LAPD’s ongoing investigation would determine the full circumstances surrounding the suspect’s injuries and the overall handling of the event.