LAPD releases footage of Indian-origin man waving machete, shot dead cops | World News

A 36-year-old Sikh man, Gurpreet Singh, was shot dead Los Angeles police after waving a machete in downtown Los Angeles near Crypto.com Arena. Video footage released the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) shows Singh performing Gatka, a traditional Sikh martial art, before refusing repeated commands from officers to drop the weapon. The machete was later identified as a “khanda”, a double-edged sword used in Indian martial arts.
The incident took place on July 13 at around 9:10 am local time, after the LAPD received a call about a man described as “a male Indian armed with a machete, wearing a blue headscarf ”and swinging a large blade at passers at the busy intersection of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard. According to the LAPD, Singh abandoned his vehicle in the middle of the road and even attempted to harm himself slicing his tongue. “Officers gave multiple commands for Singh to drop the weapon,” police said.

LAPD also released the 911 call, where the caller said Singh was in a Black Mustang, was “training” on the road and “threatening” people.”
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The video shows Singh folding his hands as if in prayer before waving the khanda and refusing repeated commands to disarm. He then threw a bottle at the officers, entered his vehicle, and drove erratically while fleeing the scene. During the pursuit, Singh collided with another police vehicle before stopping near Figueroa Street and 12th Street. He then charged at the officers with the blade, prompting an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS).
Officers Michael Orozco and Nestor Espinoza Bojorquez shot Singh, who fell on the pavement and was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The LAPD confirmed that no officers or civilians were hurt. “A machete, two feet in length, was recovered at the scene and booked as evidence,” police said.

The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is leading the probe. “The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyse forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analysed,” the LAPD said in a video posted to its YouTube channel.