A burglary suspect believed to be armed with a knife was shot and killed by officers Monday morning, ending an hourslong standoff in Los Angeles’ Mid-City neighborhood.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the initial call regarding a reported burglary in the 2600 block of South Halm Avenue was received around 3:30 a.m.
Arriving officers spotted a suspicious green van and detained three people inside, whom they initially believed were connected to the burglary call.
Smoke was also seen coming from a nearby residence prompting a call to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Firefighters at the scene then spotted a man hiding inside the residence and informed police, but the suspect barricaded himself inside the home before he could be detained. Police set up a perimeter and called in a SWAT team to help with the situation.
At one point, the suspect came out of the home, possibly armed with a knife, but went back inside after being struck by beanbag rounds from officers.
The suspect, described as a Black man between 35 and 40 years old, came out again around 7 a.m., this time through a window.
“The suspect came out one of the side windows. He was still armed with a knife, and there was an officer-involved shooting,” LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said. “The suspect was struck by gunfire and pronounced deceased here at the scene. There is a large knife near that suspect,” Aguillar said.
It was unclear if any residents were inside the home at the time of the break-in.
Investigators also said they believe the three people initially detained were not involved in the burglary call but were still questioning them.
