SANTA MONICA—On August 22, an officer-involved shooting occurred in Santa Monica when a man came toward officers with a knife and ignored multiple commands to drop the weapon. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Michael Rodriguez, 44.
The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound in the chest and it was ruled a homicide. He died in the emergency room at a local hospital at approximately 1:49 p.m. He was transported by paramedics from the Santa Monica Fire Department after officers provided life-saving emergency medical treatment.
On August 22, officers responded to a report of a domestic violence incident in the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue near Palisades Park, across from the Georgian Hotel and between Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard. They were interviewing witnesses when Rodriquez, who was not connected to the original call, came toward them.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing by the SMPD. Footage from the officers’ body cameras will be released in the near future. The SMPD asks anyone with details about the shooting, or who has video, to contact Sergeant George Burciaga by email at George.Burciaga@santamonica.gov or call the SMPD Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.
Canyon News reached out to the SMPD for comment. It was said that Michael Rodriguez was shot once in the chest and that the department suspected he was homeless, as he did not have a reported address.
By Daniel Diquinzio