LOS ANGELES – A 45-year-old man who police shot to death at an apartment in the Westlake area was identified Thursday.
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded at 3:30 p.m. Monday to an apartment building in the 200 block of South Witmer Street on a domestic violence restraining order violation, according to LAPD Officer Mike Lopez.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office identified Takar Smith as the man who the police shot.
“Upon arrival, the officers made contact with the suspect, a male in his 40s, inside of an apartment unit,” Lopez said. “The suspect refused to exit the apartment unit or comply with the officer’s orders, and they continued talking to him for approximately 15 minutes.”
Smith then armed himself with what Lopez described as “a large knife,” and officers responded with less-lethal weapons including pepper spray and a taser.
“The suspect momentarily dropped the knife, but immediately rearmed himself with the large knife at which time, an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Lopez said.
Officers provided first aid to Smith until Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene, he said.
The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division, the District Attorney’s office, and the Office of the Inspector General were investigating the shooting and a Critical Incident Community Briefing will be available within 45 days including relevant body-worn video, Lopez said.
