LANCASTER, Calif.—A man armed with a machete was shot and killed by deputies Feb. 6 at an Albertsons supermarket in Lancaster, authorities said.
The shooting occurred about 9:30 a.m. in the 43500 block of 20th Street West, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Responding deputies observed the man standing outside the store’s entrance with two machetes inside his backpack.
“As the deputies attempted to speak with him and calm him down, the suspect became agitated and grabbed both machetes in his hands,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.
The suspect then entered the store as deputies commanded him to drop his weapons numerous times, but he refused.
“Once inside the business, deputies deployed less lethal options but were unsuccessful in stopping and disarming the suspect,” the department said.
Moments later, the suspect charged at deputies, which resulted in a three-deputy shooting.
According to the department, “The male adult suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
Information on the man’s name was not immediately available.
During their investigation, investigators discovered the suspect had stabbed an employee at a gas station earlier in the day.
The victim was treated for injuries that were non-life-threatening.
No other individuals were injured during the dispute, and investigators recovered both machetes from the scene.
