A Santa Monica police officer was hospitalized Saturday after being stabbed outside the department’s headquarters.
According to Police Chief Ramon Batista, the incident happened just after 5:20 p.m. outside the Santa Monica Police Department, located in the 300 block of Olympic Drive.
According to the department, the officer was gathering information for the station on an unrelated call when the suspect, identified only as a man in his 30s, confronted him.
“He joined the conversation while the officer was trying to make contact with this party, who just wanted to bring forward information on an unrelated matter,” Batista said during a press conference on Saturday.
That’s when the suspect pulled out a large knife and attacked the officer “unexpectedly and without warning,” Batista said.
“The officer retreated, retreated, drew his weapon and went around the corner of the building. The suspect followed him and continued the attack, and it was in that area … that an involved officer fired,” said Batista. “The officer who was attacked is the one who fired his weapon.”
Other SMPD officers who responded to the area attempted to perform lifesaving measures on the man until paramedics from the Santa Monica Fire Department arrived on scene. He was pronounced dead shortly after their arrival.
The officer was rushed to a nearby hospital by other officers for treatment of multiple stab wounds.
“I hope he survives these injuries,” Batista said.
The officer involved in the attack has not yet been identified, but he is believed to be approximately 35 years old.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact SMPD at (310) 458-8427.
