Long Beach police responded just after 10 a.m. on July 22 to reports of a possible DUI and a road-rage incident that reportedly involved an ambulance. The driver, allegedly armed with a machete, led officers on a pursuit that ended near UCI Health in Los Alamitos. After negotiators and non-lethal measures failed, an outside-agency officer fired when the suspect reportedly charged officers; the man was taken to hospital in critical condition. Authorities say the incident remains under investigation and no Long Beach officers fired their weapons.
Shirtless, Machete-Wielding Suspect Critically Shot After Long Beach Chase Near UCI Health
Credit: KTLA 5/Youtube
Long Beach, CA — A shirtless man armed with a machete is in critical condition after being shot by an outside-agency officer following a chaotic car chase that ended near UCI Health in Los Alamitos, authorities said.
What Happened
Long Beach Police Department officials told reporters the incident began just after 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, when officers responded to calls about a possible DUI and a road-rage confrontation that reportedly involved an ambulance transporting a patient. Local outlets reported that the driver behaved erratically, fled the scene and led officers on a pursuit.
The pursuit ended at an intersection close to UCI Health in Los Alamitos. The driver exited his vehicle shirtless and, according to multiple eyewitness videos and media reports, was armed with a large machete. Officers established a perimeter and activated SWAT resources as the scene escalated and prompted a temporary lockdown of the medical center.
Standoff and Use of Force
Video shared online showed the suspect pacing and swinging the machete while officers and crisis negotiators attempted to persuade him to surrender. Authorities say non-lethal options were deployed but did not stop the subject. When the man allegedly ran toward officers brandishing the weapon, responding officers fired. The Long Beach Police Department confirmed an "outside agency officer-involved shooting occurred" and emphasized that no LBPD personnel fired their weapons in the incident.
Aftermath and Investigation
The wounded man was transported to a hospital in critical condition and has not been publicly identified; reports indicate he is believed to be in his 40s. An LAPD representative told local media that UCI Health was not the actual site of the standoff or shooting, but the hospital was placed on lockdown because of its proximity to the confrontation.
Police have not released details about what prompted the alleged road-rage episode, and an investigation remains ongoing. Requests for comment to the Orange County District Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles Police Department were not immediately returned at the time of reporting.
Note: This account is based on statements from law enforcement and local media reports; details may change as investigators release more information.
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