LAPD Shoot Domestic Violence Suspect Armed With a Knife

December 23, 2021 NRF063-21ma

Officer-Involved Shooting in Newton Division

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in Newton Division.

On December 18, 2021, around 10:45 a.m., officers responded to a radio call for a domestic violence suspect at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Wall Street. While the officers were at the location, the suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Rosendo Olivio Jr., approached the officers armed with a folding knife in one hand and a butane torch lighter in the other. Olivio was yelling profanities and threatening to burn down the apartment building. Olivio was ordered to drop the knife; however, he ignored the officer’s commands and continued to approach them while still holding the knife, resulting in an officer-involved shooting. Olivio was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel pronounced Olivio deceased at the scene.

The knife Olivio was armed with was recovered at the scene.

No officers were injured during the incident.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses, and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division.

The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures. Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who responded

to the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation, evidence collected, and witness statements to determine if the force used by the officer was reasonable.