A man armed with three knives was fatally shot by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies after he stabbed one officer in a Lancaster parking lot, newly released bodycam footage confirms. The June 20 confrontation, now under state investigation, shows Robert Castro rushing a deputy moments after officers arrived.
Armed Man Attacks Deputy Upon Arrival
Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a man swinging knives in public. Surveillance footage shows three patrol vehicles arriving at the scene where Castro was located. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Castro initially walked away from approaching officers but suddenly reversed course. Before the first deputy’s vehicle stopped moving, Castro turned and sprinted directly toward the officer, drew a blade, and stabbed him.
The wounded deputy immediately discharged his service weapon as Castro attacked. A second deputy also opened fire during the initial confrontation. Bodycam footage captured Castro removing a knife from his pocket just before launching the assault. The stabbed deputy suffered a wound requiring hospital treatment but survived the attack.
Second Round Of Gunfire After Commands Ignored
Following the initial shooting, the second deputy ordered Castro not to move while checking on the injured officer. Sheriff’s Department officials stated that when Castro moved his hand despite repeated commands to stop reaching, the second deputy fired additional shots. Castro was struck and transported to a local hospital where medical staff pronounced him dead. Investigators recovered three knives from Castro at the scene, confirming the initial 911 caller’s report of multiple weapons.
State Investigation Underway
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office confirmed its Police Shooting Investigation Team launched a probe under Assembly Bill 1506 mandates, which require state review of certain officer-involved shootings. The Department of Justice investigation will eventually transfer to the Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review. The release of bodycam footage represents standard procedure in deputy-involved shootings as authorities face increasing demands for transparency. The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding police use of force, even in situations involving armed suspects who attack officers first.
When are these people going to quit standing up for the insane or criminal & get this country back to law & order & safety for normal people. They never want to obey when told to stop, quit fighting screaming their heads off & wonder why they end up dead. The first thing our boys were taught was to always obey what the officer is asking if you & show respect. Yes there are some bad cops just like there are bad people in every walk of life. It doesn’t give you right to be rude or disobey request from an officer.
Not in the man’s defense at all, but someone suffering from mental illness might not hear the commands or understand them. You don’t know what was going on in this man’s mind. That being said, I believe the force used to stop the attacks (more than one) was necessary. As for the review of the situation, that’s necessary, always. Even when police aren’t involved there needs to be a detailed investigation of the facts. If an office hasn’t done something wrong or illegal, why should he fear an investigation. I’m sure you don’t expect, “Oh, a police person was involved, nothing to see here.” behavior.
It doesn’t matter if he was mentally ill, on drugs or just hateful. The threat to the Officer’s life was immediate. No time to de-escalate. He literally got STABBED and then shot the suspect. 1 stab can kill a person if it hits an artery or vital organ. I agree that every single Officer involved incident must be investigated. It is in most states. A major concern is the Assembly Bill 1506 mandate, states that it only requires “certain” police situations to be investigated. That would leave way too much room for corruption on either side and gives the state the power to decriminate and not investigate fairly. California is notoriously anti-police and no matter how justified, they seem to always blame the Officer.
Is the Perp’ Dead? If Not Why Not!!!
Another niglet?
I really can’t tell other that it’s a foreigner.
Nothing really to investigate here. Usual suspect charged at the Deputies after being ordered to stop. Usual suspect produced a knife, stabbed a Deputy almost immediately. The Deputy fired his service weapon in self defense. Usual suspect continues to disobey orders, produces another knife and gets shot again. Justice served. I don’t want to hear about the suspects bullshit mental health issues either.
Threaten anyone’s Life, and You ARE Subject to getting DRT-Dead Right There.
They are investigating the officer when they should be investigating why this POS was still running around. California persists on going down the path of sacrificing its citizens to the radical Left’s ideas of social justice.
EXACTLY RIGHT
I was in law enforcement for over 40 years. When the police encounter a suspect armed with a knife, it is a deadly situation. I was part of a training group for federal law enforcement officer. If an officer approaches a person with a knife and still has his service weapon in the holster/ he/she is in danger of being stabbed multiple times before he can draw his weapon. I have conducted numerous training session for seasoned officers who could not believe that an armed suspect standing 35 feet away can reach the officers and stab him before he can get his weapon out. This can happen even if the officer knows the suspect has the knife. There is an old saying in law enforcement, “smoke meth and do stupid things faster”. Check this out by trying it with a friend. Knives are as dangerous as guns when used close up.
Imagine that. Another Mentally Ill Illegal Alien that Shouldn’t Have Ever Been Allowed Into America In the First Place. This Has Got to Stop. Maybe Us Citizens Are Going to Have to go out and Find These People Ourselves and Dispose of Them.
We Can’t Allow This Kind of Evil, Illegal Vermin to Run Free Around America, No Matter How Bad Democrats Need Votes.
TRUE
Got what was coming to him.
Dude was on drugs or one not bright individual.
Good job Police.
I was a police officer and if he lunged at me, I would have shot him too. I hope the officer recovers and can still do his job. God Bless all in blue who stand for safety first and are a good cop.
The shooting was justicfied . Now I didn’t see any reason for the man being in prison . Maybe Vetmike know something about this that’s not in the artile .