Dramatic body-camera video captures the moment Santa Monica police officers shot a man who allegedly charged at them with a knife while they were handling an unrelated incident.
The footage shows two officers speaking with witnesses about a separate matter near the busy Santa Monica Pier on Aug. 22 when they notice a man approaching with a serrated knife raised above his head.
As the man continued toward them, both officers repeatedly shouted, “Put that down!” while backing away.
When the man accelerated toward the officers, one officer fired a single shot to his chest, according to the video. He then dropped the knife.
An officer is then seen kicking the knife away from the suspect before beginning CPR.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the man as 44-year-old Michael Rodriguez. He later died at a hospital.
No officers or bystanders were hurt. Authorities said they recovered two additional knives from Rodriguez, one on his person and another in his backpack.
The knife Rodriguez was holding when he charged at officers had a hilt featuring a sharp, serrated edge resembling that of a combat knife.
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A sheathed knife found in his backpack appeared similar. Police said another knife recovered from his pocket had a metal grip with holes and material wrapped around it.
It remains unclear what prompted Rodriguez to charge at the officers.
Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob released a statement about the department’s responsibility to be transparent about the incident.
“Our officers answer calls for help knowing the circumstances can change in an instant. On August 22, they encountered an armed individual while assisting with an unrelated call,” Jacob said.
“I recognize the lasting impact an incident like this can have on the officers and personnel who responded, and they have my support. When a life is lost during a police encounter, our responsibility to provide a clear and open account is especially important. Releasing this video is an important step in providing that account to our community,” he added.
Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis praised the officers’ response to the incident.
“I am grateful for the courage our officers showed in the face of an armed threat and for
the lifesaving efforts that followed,” Torosis said.
“Our officers are part of this community, and violence against them puts everyone around us at risk. Their safety is inseparable from the safety of the people they serve. The officers and personnel who responded that day deserve our gratitude and support for their bravery, compassion, and commitment to Santa Monica,” she added.
Several investigations — including an officer-involved shooting review from the Los Angele County District Attorney’s Office, an internal Santa Monica Police Department inquiry, and a criminal investigation into the incident — remain ongoing.