LAPD kills knife-wielding man after standoff in Westlake

Los Angeles police officers shot a knife-wielding man to death today at an apartment in the Westlake area.

Officers responded at 3:30 p.m. to an apartment building in the 200 block of South Witmer Street on a domestic violence restraining order violation, according to Los Angeles Police Department Officer Mike Lopez.

“Upon arrival, the officers made contact with the suspect, a male in his 40s, inside of an apartment unit,” Lopez said. “The suspect refused to exit the apartment unit or comply with the officers’ orders, and they continued talking to him for approximately 15 minutes.”

The man then armed himself with what Lopez described as “a large knife,” and officers responded with less-lethal weapons including pepper spray and a taser.

“The suspect momentarily dropped the knife, but immediately rearmed himself with the large knife at which time, an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Lopez said.

Officers provided first aid to the wounded suspect until Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene, he said. The suspect’s name was not immediately released.

The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division, the District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Inspector General were investigating the shooting and a Critical Incident Community Briefing will be available within 45 days including relevant body-worn video, Lopez said.