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| -War on Police- |
| Knife-wielding man races at officer in packed seaside park before one deadly shot rings out: video |
| 2026-09-13 |
| [FoxNews] Michael Rodriguez, 44, was killed after bodycam video showed him charging at police with a large blade raised above his head in Palisades Park A police response to reports of a man chasing a woman spiraled into a deadly confrontation when an unrelated knife-wielding man charged an officer through a crowded seaside park in California, chilling new bodycam video shows. The tense encounter unfolded Aug. 22 as Santa Monica Police Department officers investigated a report of a man chasing a woman near the Broadway stairs, according to a newly released critical incident briefing. The man killed in the confrontation was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as 44-year-old Michael Rodriguez. Two uniformed officers responded to Broadway and Ocean Avenue at approximately 12:30 p.m. before speaking with witnesses in the 1400 block of Palisades Park. The popular oceanfront park was crowded with pedestrians, visitors and vendors that Saturday afternoon when officers spotted Rodriguez, who was unrelated to the original call, holding a large knife above his head and moving toward an officer and several bystanders, police said. "Hey, put that down," an officer can be heard repeatedly shouting as he draws his gun and backs away from Rodriguez. "Put it down. Put that down," the officer commands. Rodriguez ignored the warnings and continued advancing with the knife raised above his head, according to police. He then quickened his pace and closed the distance between him and the officer while the officer retreated. The officer fired one round from his department-issued firearm, striking Rodriguez in the chest. "Officer needs help," one officer can be heard saying before asking witnesses to remain at the scene. As police approached Rodriguez and checked him for additional weapons, an officer discovered a second knife in his right pants pocket. Officers also spotted the handle of a third knife sticking out of his backpack, police said. Investigators described the knife carried during the confrontation as a large, fixed-blade "fighting and utility style" weapon with a clip-point blade, protective hand guard, metal grip and serrations along part of its spine. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |