By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — An officer was attacked and stabbed outside the Santa Monica Police Department Headquarters, newly released body camera video shows.
The attack happened on Oct. 5 when the officer was standing outside the headquarters to collect information from a resident about an unrelated call, the Santa Monica Police Department said. While speaking with the resident, the officer was approached by a man near the building’s front entrance.
Body camera footage released on Nov. 21 shows the officer noticed the man appeared to be concealing something under his coat.
“What’s in your jacket? I’m kind of nervous with your hand in your jacket like that,” the officer said.
“You’re nervous?” the suspect said before he pulled out a knife and lunged at the officer, video shows.
Video shows the suspect making a slashing movement toward the officer several times. The officer immediately moved away and armed himself with his duty weapon, police said.
The suspect continued to follow and attack the officer with a knife as the wounded officer retreated around the building where he fired his weapon, striking the suspect.
The officer then backed up to de-escalate the situation while giving verbal commands for the suspect to get on the ground, video shows. The suspect continued toward the officer before the officer fired more shots.
“Hey. I’m hurt. I’m stabbed,” the officer said to officers responding to the scene.
Officers rendered aid to the suspect before firefighters took over further life-saving measures, police said. The suspect, identified as a 28-year-old man from New York, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The wounded officer suffered several severe stab wounds to his neck and shoulder region, requiring immediate trauma care, the police department said in a critical incident briefing.
An 8-inch chef’s knife was recovered from the scene.
