Machete-wielding man shot by LAPD officer near Crypto.com Arena in downtown, department says

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A driver waving a machete near Crypto.com Arena was shot and injured by a Los Angeles police officer on Sunday morning.

The incident was caught on video by witnesses watching from a nearby high-rise.

Shortly after 9 a.m., officers responded to Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard after reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. LAPD said the man was reportedly flashing the machete at people and chanting.

When police arrived, LAPD says the man — armed with a machete — charged at them. He then got into a black Dodge Challenger, launching a short pursuit.

The man began driving in circles around officers, bumping one of the patrol vehicles before he stopped and exited his car with the machete in hand.

That’s when LAPD says two officers fired their weapons, critically injuring the suspect.

“He was still armed with the machete and charged toward officers again, this time resulting in an officer-involved shooting,” said Det. Meghan Aguilar with LAPD. “That suspect was struck by gunfire and transported to a local hospital, where he is in critical condition but receiving medical care.”

The machete was recovered at the scene.

“You can only give so many warnings, and each officer has to make a decision based on their training and their experience when they constitute using deadly force, in regards to whether it is a handgun or an edged weapon,” Aguilar said. “Again, this was a very large machete. The behaviors of the individual were very aggressive and violent.

The segment of Figueroa Street between Pico Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard was closed for the investigation.