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Newly released body camera video shows the moments before a Santa Monica police officer shot and killed a man who authorities said approached officers with a knife in crowded Palisades Park.
The Santa Monica Police Department released the video on Saturday.
The shooting happened on Aug. 22 after police responded to Broadway and Ocean Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. for a report of a man chasing a woman near the Broadway stairs.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Police shoot and kill man armed with knife near busy Santa Monica Pier, department says
A man accused of charging at officers with a knife was shot and killed by Santa Monica police on Saturday.
As officers gathered witness statements in the park, they saw another man holding a large knife above his head, police said. Authorities said the man was not connected to the incident officers were initially investigating.
Body camera video shows the man walking toward officers with the knife pointed at them as officers repeatedly order him to drop it.
“Hey, put that down! Put that down! Put that down!” an officer is heard repeating on bodycam video before firing shots.
Nearby bystanders can be seen quickly moving out of the way as the man approached the officers.
Police described the weapon as a large, fixed-blade utility-style knife with serrations along the side. It was one of three knives found on the man as officers investigated the scene, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Officers attempted lifesaving measures, but the man was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The shooting happened during the busy afternoon, in front of vendors, families and other park visitors.
Caroline Iwanchuk said she witnessed officers attempting to resuscitate the man.
“I literally came out, and I could see them doing chest compressions on the gentleman. It was just very hard to witness,” Iwanchuk said.
The investigation shut down a significant portion of Palisades Park into the evening.
Police said the information released is preliminary and that a criminal investigation remains underway. The Santa Monica Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit is conducting a separate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The man was identified by the medical examiner’s office as 44-year-old Michael Rodriguez.
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