Armed Man Killed by SWAT Team

A man armed with a butcher knife who had barricaded himself inside his Los Angeles apartment Thursday became the first person shot and killed by police SWAT team officers in at least two years, officials said.

The man’s name was withheld pending notification of relatives.

Lt. Charles Higbie, who heads investigations of officer-involved shootings, said the victim tried to attack his sister during an argument at the residence in the 400 block of Bixel Street at 1 p.m.

The woman escaped from the multi-unit, red brick apartment building and called police, who called in special weapons team officers after the man barricaded himself inside, Higbie said.

When attempts to contact the man were unsuccessful, SWAT officers lobbed tear gas into the apartment, and the man threw some of the canisters out the broken front windows, Higbie said.

The officers entered the house about 4:50 p.m., where they were confronted by the man waving a large butcher knife, the lieutenant said. A Taser stun-gun was fired twice as police attempted to subdue the man, but they had no effect, Higbie said. Two officers fired and the man was killed, he said.