LA Deputies Shoot Man As He Charges Toward Them With a Sword

 

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at approximately 6:41 a.m., deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department's Century Station responded to an emergency call involving a man armed with a knife. The incident occurred near the 9200 block of Graham Avenue, located in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles. According to the caller, a Hispanic male was seen brandishing a large machete and behaving in a threatening manner toward employees at a nearby business.Upon arrival, deputies gathered information from witnesses at the scene, who reported that the suspect, later identified as 41-year-old Agustin Flores, had last been seen heading south on Graham Avenue. Witnesses stated he had entered a white Nissan pickup truck parked just south of 92nd Street. Deputies quickly located the vehicle and observed Flores seated in the driver’s seat.

When officers approached the vehicle, they instructed Flores to exit, but he refused to comply. In an effort to detain him safely, deputies attempted to control Flores’s hands and upper body. However, Flores became combative, aggressively resisting by punching and kicking the deputies. Given the escalating threat and concern that he might be reaching for a weapon, deputies momentarily disengaged and backed away from the truck.

During this pause, Flores retrieved a hook sword from inside the vehicle. The weapon, later recovered at the scene, measured approximately 26 inches in total length, with a curved blade roughly 15 inches long. The deputies, now facing a serious threat, requested backup. Additional personnel arrived on scene and joined efforts to de-escalate the situation.

Deputies issued multiple commands for Flores to drop the sword. Despite their repeated warnings, Flores refused to surrender the weapon. He then exited the truck still armed, prompting officers to deploy a range of less-lethal force options, including a TASER, a 40mm Sage Deuce foam baton launcher, and a stun bag shotgun.Despite being struck with these less-lethal munitions, Flores did not stop. Instead, he advanced toward the deputies, still holding the sword in a threatening manner. Fearing for their safety and the safety of others nearby, deputies discharged their firearms. Flores was hit by gunfire and immediately collapsed to the ground.

Paramedics from the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded quickly and provided emergency medical assistance. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, Agustin Flores was pronounced dead at the scene due to the gunshot wounds he sustained during the confrontation.

The stainless-steel hook sword was recovered and documented as evidence. Its size and shape confirmed it as a serious and potentially deadly weapon. Authorities emphasized that Flores's refusal to comply, combined with his aggressive behavior and possession of a dangerous weapon, created a highly volatile situation.

In the course of the initial attempt to detain Flores, two deputies were injured during the physical struggle. They were transported to a nearby medical facility, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.As standard procedure in incidents involving the use of deadly force, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau has taken over the investigation. Officials will review body-worn camera footage, interview witnesses, and analyze forensic evidence to determine the exact sequence of events and whether proper protocol was followed.