Los Angeles police shot and killed a machete-wielding man who charged at officers after a vehicle pursuit near Crypto.com Arena on July 13, newly released body camera footage shows.
Officers responded to Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard around 9 a.m. after multiple 911 callers reported a man — later identified as 35-year-old Gurpreet Singh — blocking traffic and swinging a machete at pedestrians, according to ABC 7 News. Video released by police shows Singh appearing to cut his own tongue with the weapon before officers arrived. (RELATED: Bodycam Video Shows Stolen Vehicle Suspect Come Under Hail Of Police Fire)
“Officers gave multiple commands for Singh to drop the weapon,” police said in an update. “However, he failed to comply. Singh then returned to his vehicle, retrieved a water bottle, and threw it at the officers.”
Singh sped off, waving the machete out his driver’s side window, police said. Officers pursued until he crashed into a patrol car after driving erratically.
The chase ended near Figueroa and 12th streets, where body camera video shows Singh getting out and charging at officers with the weapon. Officers Michael Orozco and Nestor Espinoza Bojorquez fired, hitting Singh. (RELATED: Armed Suspect Flees Police, Live Streams Chase With Girlfriend And Baby On Board)
Singh was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police recovered the two-foot machete at the scene and booked it as evidence, according to the outlet. No officers or bystanders were injured.
The Los Angeles Police Department said the shooting remains under investigation.