A man who was shot by Los Angeles police after allegedly advancing on officers with a box-cutter knife at a Venice coffeehouse remained hospitalized in critical condition today.
Police identified the suspect as Jason Davis, but they had no further information on his age or whether he is a transient.
Davis was shot around 2 p.m. Monday on the patio of Groundwork Coffee Co., 671 Rose Ave.
A witness said Davis, who appeared to be mentally ill, sat down on the patio but then turned and began vomiting. He had been drinking from a bottle of black liquid that appeared to be a mix of water and cigarette butts, the witness — an employee of the coffeehouse — told a reporter at the scene.
When a store manager came out to talk to Davis, he became unruly and pulled out the knife, prompting a call to police, the employee said.
Two officers confronted Davis — one with a Taser and the other with a gun, the witness said. He said the officer with the Taser used his weapon first, but it appeared to have no effect on Davis.
The officers warned the man to drop the knife, but he refused and walked toward them, according to the witness who said the other officer then fired two or three rounds.
The knife was recovered by officers at the scene, according to the LAPD.
This shooting is being investigated by the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division, the Office of the Inspector General and a shooting team from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division.
Anyone with information on this shooting was asked to call the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230. Tipsters can also call the LAPD’s 24-hour tipline at (877) LAPD-24-7 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. All tips can be made anonymously.
