Police Standoff Leads to Gunfire in Boyle Heights

Newly released body camera footage reveals the intense moment when police fired upon a man during a chaotic standoff in Boyle Heights. The incident, which unfolded around 1:35 a.m. on May 16, began after a 911 call reported an assault involving a knife.

The caller, a woman speaking Spanish, identified herself as the mother of 40-year-old Robert Velasquez, a convicted felon on parole. She indicated that her son was experiencing a violent episode related to paranoid schizophrenia.

According to the woman, Velasquez had jumped a fence to enter his aunt’s house, where he got into a confrontation with family members and threatened to harm himself.

“I’ve already called for him to be taken to a psychiatric hospital, but that hasn’t happened,” she told the dispatcher. “He has a knife because he says he wants to kill himself.” She added that her sister and niece were in a state of fear.

A short while later, a second caller reported that Velasquez had moved to Glenn Avenue, describing him as wearing a black shirt and red shorts, and seemingly under the influence of drugs.

“Oh my God, I want you to arrive early,” the caller exclaimed, urging a swift police response.

When officers arrived, they encountered Velasquez’s family outside the home. Body camera footage showed officers speaking with the family just as Velasquez emerged from the house, wielding two knives and a grilling fork.

After officials ordered him to drop the weapons, Velasquez threw one of the knives and charged at the officers, who then opened fire. He was hit and momentarily fell to the ground. However, when he attempted to get back up, still armed, police fired again.

“Get off, get off,” one officer shouted, clearly distressed as Velasquez continued to pose a threat. He threw a second knife but subsequently collapsed.

Desperately, he called out, “Mommy, help me.”

As he began walking toward the front door of his home, officers used both lethal and non-lethal rounds to finally subdue him, discharging a total of nine shots in the process. They provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived to take Velasquez to a local hospital.

Authorities recovered two knives and the grill fork as evidence, with no injuries reported among bystanders or police. Velasquez, who is currently held on a $125,000 bail, faces multiple charges, including two counts of assault with a deadly weapon against law enforcement. He’s scheduled to appear in court on July 6.

LAPD Lt. Mike Brand noted that an internal review will determine if the officers adhered to department policies regarding the use of force during the incident.

“In the coming months, the LAPD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident,” Brand stated.