Santa Monica Officer Fatally Shoots 44-Year-Old Man After Knife Charge in Crowded Park
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 13
Santa Monica Officer Fatally Shoots 44-Year-Old Man After Knife Charge in Crowded Park
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 13
Summary
Bodycam released in a new critical-incident briefing shows 44-year-old Michael Rodriguez charging a Santa Monica officer with a raised knife in Palisades Park before the officer fired a single round.
Police said officers were responding around 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 22 to a report of a man chasing a woman when they encountered Rodriguez—unrelated to that call—advancing toward an officer and nearby bystanders despite repeated orders to drop the weapon.
One shot struck Rodriguez in the chest; officers then called for backup, treated him with gauze, a chest seal and chest compressions, and paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:49 p.m.
Investigators recovered a second knife from Rodriguez's pants pocket and a third from his backpack, while no officers or bystanders were injured in the crowded oceanfront park.
The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, and the shooting remains under criminal, internal and Los Angeles County District Attorney review as police say the video reflects preliminary evidence.