A man armed with a metal bat was shot by police in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday after allegedly charging at officers and striking one during a violent daytime confrontation.
The incident began at about 1:25 p.m., when LAPD Central Division patrol officers responded to a reported robbery near 4th Street and Omar Street.
At the scene, officers encountered an adult male holding a metal bar in one hand and a long tree branch in the other. Police said he ignored repeated orders to drop the weapons.
“Officers gave the suspect multiple commands to drop the weapon, which he failed to comply [with],” the Los Angeles Police Department said. “Officers deployed less lethal foam rounds to no effect.”
The man then moved toward the officers and struck one of them with the metal bar, according to police.
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Officers opened fire, hitting the suspect. He was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The injured officer was also hospitalized. Police said both the suspect and the officer were in stable condition.
Investigators recovered the metal bar as evidence. No additional injuries were reported.
The LAPD said the details released so far were preliminary and that the investigation was still in its early stages.
“There is no ongoing threat to the community,” the department said.