Newly released body-worn camera footage captures the tense moment Los Angeles police fired at a man who allegedly hurled knives at officers during a volatile encounter in Boyle Heights.
The incident began at about 1:35 a.m. on May 16, when LAPD Hollenbeck Patrol Division officers responded to a residence on Orme Avenue near Whittier Boulevard following a 911 report of an assault with a deadly weapon in progress.
The caller, a Spanish-speaking woman, said she was the mother of 40-year-old Robert Velasquez — a convicted felon who was on parole — and reported that her son was experiencing a violent episode related to paranoid schizophrenia.
According to the woman, Velasquez had climbed over a fence and entered his aunt’s home, where he was arguing with relatives and threatening to kill himself with a knife.
“I had already called for him to be taken to a mental hospital and they haven’t taken him,” the woman told a 911 dispatcher.
“He has a knife, but because he says he wants to kill himself,” she said.
“Please go right now,” she added. “He’s screaming everything. My sister is very scared; my niece too.”
Minutes afterward, a second person called 911 to report that Velasquez had run to nearby Glenn Avenue. The caller said he was yelling, may have been under the influence of drugs, and was wearing a black shirt with red shorts.
“Oh my god, we need them to arrive fast,” the caller said.
A flood of additional calls then hit 911 dispatchers, reporting that Velasquez was assaulting a woman at the location on Glenn Avenue, prompting the LAPD to dispatch additional officers.
Officers arrived minutes later, finding a family member of Velasquez’s outside of his home.
Chaotic bodycam footage shows the officers speaking with the family member when Velasquez suddenly burst from the front door, brandishing two knives and a grilling fork.
The officers had told Velasquez to drop the weapons when he threw one of the knives at them. Still armed with one knife and the grilling fork, he lunged at the cops, who opened fire.
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Velasquez was struck by the gunfire and momentarily fell to the ground. As he attempted to stand back up while still holding a knife and grilling fork, officers opened fire again.
“Put it down, put it down,” yelled one of the cops. “Stay down!”
Velasquez was struck by gunfire again. He raised his arm and threw the second knife at officers before collapsing.
“Help me mama,” he cried.
Velasquez sat up and started toward the front door of his house and an officer opened fire once again, this time using a 40mm foam projectile that finally subdued the suspect. Nine shots were fired in all.
The officers performed medical aid until Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived and took Velasquez to a local hospital for treatment.
Two knives and a grilling fork were recovered at the scene and booked as evidence. No bystanders or officers were injured.
Velasquez was treated at the hospital and transferred to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown LA, where he’s being held on $125,000 bail.
He’s charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and is due in court July 6.
LAPD Captain Mike Bland said LAPD released its videos of the incident and audio recordings of the 911 calls in compliance with department protocols.
Bland said the department and police commission will evaluate the shooting to determine whether officers followed LAPD rules for the use of force.
“In the next several months, the LAPD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident,” said Bland.
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