LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities identified the stabbing suspect who was fatally shot by police near USC as a resident of a nearby treatment facility.
Officers responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 900 block of West 23rd Street, in the University Park area south of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway, about 11 a.m. Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. They discovered the victim stabbed in the face with a folding knife, and the suspect at the scene.
Police later identified the suspect as Brian Rolstad, and the victim as a staff member of the multi-unit residential treatment facility, according to the department.
“As officers approached the location, they met with the victim and witnesses and attempted to ascertain Rolstad’s location,” the LAPD said in a statement.
Additional patrol units arrived and formed a tactical team to callout Rolstad, during which authorities said, “Rolstad emerged from the location and began to advance on the team of officers armed with a knife.”
When he allegedly did not comply with police instruction to drop the weapon, an officer discharged four rounds from a Beanbag Shotgun, which was “momentarily effective.” As Rolstad continued to advance, officers attempted to redeploy onto the sidewalk and street, when the shooting occurred.
Rolstad was struck in the chest by gunfire and dropped to the ground, police said. An arrest team then approached and took him into custody, and he was transported to a local hospital along with the victim.
Rolstad was pronounced deceased by hospital staff, while the victim was treated for his stab wound and discharged, according to the LAPD. No further description of Rolstad or the victim were available.
It was unclear what led to the conflict.
Police said they located a black 6-inch folding knife with an approximately 2 1/2-inch blade in the roadway where Rolstad collapsed, and booked it as evidence. Bodycam footage and other surveillance videos were also being investigated as evidence.
No officers were injured.