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Man Shot By CHP Officers In Santa Monica Allegedly Stabbed His Roommate
Police have identified a man who was shot and killed by CHP officers in Santa Monica on Monday as 52-year-old Gerardo Vasquez, who was wanted in Simi Valley for an alleged attack on his roommate.
According to a release from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, Vasquez had been suspected of stabbing his roommate on Friday, February 3. He was wanted by the Simi Valley Police Department and was considered "armed and dangerous," but his whereabouts remained unknown until he was spotted walking along the 10 Freeway in Santa Monica just after midnight on Monday morning.
The shooting occurred after Vasquez fled approaching CHP officers and darted between two buildings in the 3300 block of Pico Boulevard. Authorities say non-lethal bean bag rounds were fired at Vasquez, but as he continued to approach officers holding a knife, he was shot and killed. Vasquez allegedly attempted to throw the knife at officers after he was shot once, and was shot a second time, KTLA reports. Authorities are calling the incident a "suicide by cop."
The stabbing victim's identity has not been released, but he has been described as a 32-year-old man. The incident occurred at a home in the 200 block of Ulysses Street in Simi Valley. The victim survived the attack, but was admitted to the hospital in critical condition and was placed in a medically-induced coma, according to CBS Los Angeles. Police said the attack was seemingly without motive, and that Vasquez fled the scene on a bicycle.
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