The Los Angeles Police Department has released new body camera footage showing the moments before officers shot and killed a knife-wielding suspect outside the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas. The suspect had attacked someone with a machete outside of a McDonald’s. Benjamin Pritchard, the armed suspect, was later identified and was shot by officers after he turned towards them with a knife. Pritchard later died in the hospital. The investigation is ongoing. ABC7 Los Angeles reported
The Los Angeles Police Department has released new body camera footage capturing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of a knife-wielding suspect outside the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas. The incident occurred on November 1 when officers received a report about a man armed with a machete on Avenue San Luis. The suspect had previously attacked someone with the machete outside a McDonald’s. The victim was able to disarm the suspect of the machete, but he then pulled out a knife. In the newly released audio of the 911 call, the distressed victim can be heard seeking help. The suspect, identified as Benjamin Pritchard, was spotted by arriving officers in a nearby parking lot and began to flee. The officers followed him in their patrol vehicles, even driving into the McDonald’s drive-thru at one point. Eventually, they caught up to Pritchard as he approached the 101 freeway. He lunged at the officers’ vehicle with a knife, prompting them to yell for him to drop the weapon. Pritchard continued to run towards oncoming traffic, and the officers warned nearby drivers of the danger. Despite the officers deploying a Taser twice, Pritchard turned towards them with the knife, leading them to open fire. He was struck by gunfire and later died in the hospital. The victim of the machete attack did not sustain any serious injuries, and no officers were injured. The machete and knife were recovered at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing..
The Los Angeles Police Department has recently released new body camera footage that captures the moments leading up to the shooting and killing of a suspect armed with a knife outside the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas. The incident occurred on the evening of November 1st when officers received a call about a man wielding a machete on Avenue San Luis. It was reported that the suspect had already attacked someone with the machete outside a nearby McDonald’s.
In the newly released audio of the 911 call made that night, the distressed victim can be heard urgently seeking help after being attacked by the suspect. The victim managed to disarm the suspect of the machete, but the suspect then pulled out a knife.
The suspect has been identified as Benjamin Pritchard, and in the body camera footage, officers can be seen quickly spotting him in a parking lot nearby. Pritchard then flees, with officers closely following him in their patrol vehicles, even driving through the McDonald’s drive-thru at one point. Eventually, the officers catch up to Pritchard as he approaches the 101 freeway.
At this critical moment, Pritchard is seen lunging at the officers’ vehicle with a knife in his hand. He continues running towards oncoming traffic. In response, one of the officers shouts at him to drop the knife, but Pritchard remains armed and poses a potential threat to others.
The officer uses the vehicle’s loudspeaker to warn drivers about the danger and urges them to lock their windows and move. However, Pritchard ignores these warnings and heads straight towards the Sagebrush Cantina restaurant.
Recognizing the imminent danger, an officer instructs everyone inside the restaurant to lock the doors. Officers then pursue Pritchard into a patio area just outside the restaurant. They attempt to subdue him using a Taser twice, but Pritchard turns towards them with the knife, forcing them to open fire.
During the intense moment, an officer shouts that if Pritchard enters the restaurant, they should shoot him. Eventually, shots are fired, and Pritchard is struck. He is immediately taken to the hospital but succumbs to his injuries. Thankfully, the victim of the initial machete attack did not suffer any serious injuries, and no officers were harmed.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and both the machete and knife used by Pritchard were recovered at the scene..