Man Shot and killed by deputies after ramming patrol vehicle, charging with knife

On March 19, 2024, at 9:18 p.m., Lakewood Station deputies responded to a residence in the 15900 block of Indiana Avenue, Paramount, regarding a welfare call. They contacted the victim, who stated her ex-boyfriend had violated a protective order by showing up at her residence and demanding she let him inside. The male was later identified as 40-year-old Jose Acosta from the city of Bellflower. Deputies observed Acosta driving near the victim’s residence in an orange Pontiac vehicle. Deputies followed Acosta until he stopped in the number two lane of eastbound Artesia Boulevard at Downey Avenue in the city of Long Beach. As deputies prepared to conduct a traffic stop, they positioned their vehicles behind Acosta, who suddenly put his vehicle in reverse. Acosta accelerated backwards and crashed into the front end of the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The impact of the collision was so violent that it caused both vehicles to become inoperable. Deputies immediately exited their patrol vehicles and observed Acosta exit the driver’s door of his vehicle with a knife in his right hand. Deputies ordered Acosta to drop his weapon, but he refused and charged toward them, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred. Acosta sustained gunshot wounds to the torso. Deputies rendered aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics. Acosta was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. A knife with an approximate three-inch blade was recovered at the scene. One deputy was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for life-threatening injuries sustained during the collision. There were no other persons injured in the incident.