A man who allegedly stabbed a Santa Monica police officer outside police headquarters, prompting the officer to fatally shoot him, was identified Monday.
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The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the man as Deyaa Abdelhadi Halaibeh, 28.
The attack occurred at about 5:20 p.m. Saturday outside police headquarters at 333 Olympic Drive, according to Santa Monica police Lt. Erika Aklufi.
The officer was standing outside the front door of the station collecting information from a resident about an unrelated call when the suspect confronted him, Aklufi said. The officer told him he needed to wait while the officer spoke with the other person.
"Without warning, the individual attacked the officer while pulling a knife from his clothing," Aklufi said. "The suspect slashed and stabbed the officer. The officer immediately moved away and armed himself with his duty weapon. The suspect followed the officer continuing the knife attack as the wounded officer retreated around the corner of the building where the officer-involved shooting occurred."
The officer suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken by patrol car to a hospital for emergency treatment, Police Chief Ramon Batista told reporters at the scene.
Officers rendered medical aid to Halaibeh until Santa Monica Fire Department paramedics took over and pronounced him dead at the scene, Aklufi said.
The injured officer was treated and ultimately released from a hospital.
"We are pleased to announce that our officer has been released from the hospital and is now home, focusing on recovery," the Santa Monica Police Department said Sunday afternoon. "We are all grateful for his dedication to protecting our community and will do everything we can to help him and his family through the hard work of recovering from this attack."
The shooting was under investigation by the SMPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, per policy.
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