BELLFLOWER, Calif. (KNX) — Authorities identified a man Friday who was fatally shot by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies after he allegedly stabbed another man with a gardening implement.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday when deputies responded to a report of street racing in the area of Artesia Boulevard and Downey Avenue.
Edgar Ortiz, 32, allegedly stabbed another man on the scene with what authorities described as a “garden claw,” before swinging it towards deputies. One or more officers opened fire as a result, wounding Ortiz.
Ortiz was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died of his injuries.
"Deputies attempted to detain the suspect, but he fled the scene southbound Downey Avenue on foot. When deputies caught up to the suspect, he turned around and advanced on them while swinging the approximately 3-foot-long garden claw with spikes on the end at them, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred," a department statement said.
"The initial victim stabbed by the suspect was treated on scene by Los Angeles County fire paramedics," the statement said. "It appears the street racing incident is not related to the stabbing incident. No deputies were injured during the incident."
Details on what prompted the gardening tool attack have not yet been disclosed.
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