November 21, 2024 -- The Santa Monica Police Department released a "critical incident" video Thursday showing a wounded officer fatally shooting his knife-wielding assailant outside the Public Safety building.
The release of the video -- created by SMPD and required by California law -- provides "insight into and context for the Officer Involved Shooting (OIS)" that took place on October 5, police officials said.
"The use of force by law enforcement personnel is a matter of critical concern, both to the public and to the law enforcement community," police officials said in a statement accompanying the video's release.
"Every day, officers are involved in rapidly evolving interactions with members of the public and, when warranted, use reasonable force in carrying out their duties," the statement said.
The narrated video shows the bearded suspect stealing a box of kitchen knives from a Target store after knocking a clerk to the ground then fleeing.
Three blocks away and less then 10 minutes later, he is seen ringing the bell on the police station's front door with a hand concealed inside his jacket.
"I'm kind of nervous with your hand in your pocket like that?" says the voice of the officer responding to the door.
"You're nervous?" says the man who rang the bell.
The body camera video turns frenzied, then cuts to an exterior corner of the building where the assailant wielding a knife comes at the officer, who has backed away.
"Get on the ground!" the officer shouts as shots are fired. "Get on the ground!"
The attacker falls and lays face down moaning as the officer shouts into his radio, "Shots fired. Shots fired. In front of HQ."
"I've got one at gunpoint," the officer says. "Gun is facing northbound. Send an ambulance."
The audio is muted and a hand obscures the body camera.
"Hey. Knife," the officer says to officers who have exited the building. "Hey, I'm hurt. I'm stabbed. I'm stabbed."
An alternate angle from the Police Department's exterior camera system shows the officer dashing away from his pursuer after being attacked outside the door.
The video "shows additional perspective on the officer's efforts to evade the sudden and repeated nature of the attack," says the video's narrator.
It shows the attacker catching the officer between two large concrete planters and tossing him down. The officer stands and backs away.
The attacker returns between the planters, leans down and grabs the knife, then comes at the officer, before falling to the ground a few feet away.
A picture of the officer's vest displayed in the video shows "multiple slashes and cuts" made by the purple eight-inch kitchen knife, which is also displayed.
"The officer received multiple stab wounds to his neck and shoulder region requiring immediate trauma care," according to the video.
"Despite immediate lifesaving efforts from responding officers and Santa Monica harbor guards who rushed to the scene, the suspect succumbed to his injuries
Police are investigating the mental health history of the attacker, who arrived from New York about a week before the incident, and his "possible motivation for this targeted attack on law enforcement."
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has launched an independent investigation and SMPD's Internal Affairs Division is also investigating the incident to ensure that policy and procedures were followed, officials said.
"(SMPD) understands that building and maintaining trust between the police department and the community requires openness and transparency in all matters, especially the use of deadly force by a police officer," police officials said.
The video is accompanied by a viewer advisory: The following video includes graphic content, including violent assault footage and intense audio that may be distressing to some viewers. Discretion is strongly advised.
To view the video, click here