Michael Rodriguez: A single shot on Ocean Avenue after police say he approached officers with a knife
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA (August 22, 2026): Michael Rodriguez, 44, died Saturday afternoon after a Santa Monica Police Department officer shot him in the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue at Palisades Park near Broadway, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. SMPD said officers were in the park at about 12:49 p.m. taking witness statements on a report of a man chasing a woman near the Broadway stairs when Rodriguez, who was not connected to that call, approached holding a large knife above his head with the blade pointed at officers, Canyon News reported. According to SMPD, he ignored repeated commands to drop the knife and advanced on an officer, who fired a single shot that struck him in the chest.
Officers applied a chest seal and chest compressions before paramedics took over, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at a hospital at about 1:49 p.m., Canyon News reported. SMPD said three knives were recovered, according to ABC7. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide by gunshot wound to the chest. SMPD released body camera footage on September 12; ABC7 reported the video shows the man walking toward officers with the knife extended as an officer yells to put it down before firing. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the shooting, and SMPD Internal Affairs is conducting a separate administrative investigation, Canyon News reported. Police said Rodriguez was believed to be homeless.
Liability for Los Angeles County Police Shootings
The Fourth Amendment bars unreasonable seizures, and Graham v. Connor (1989) 490 U.S. 386 asks whether the force was objectively reasonable. California Penal Code § 835a is stricter: deadly force is permitted only when necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 provides the federal claim against the officer and, under Monell v. Department of Social Services (1978) 436 U.S. 658, against the City of Santa Monica for a policy or training failure. The Bane Act, California Civil Code § 52.1, supplies a parallel state claim.
- Distance and time: the body camera video will show how far Rodriguez was from the officer and how long officers had between the first command and the shot.
- Less-lethal options: whether officers in a crowded park had a Taser, a beanbag launcher or space to retreat, and whether policy required trying them first.
- Mental health: whether a crisis was apparent in a man described as homeless, and whether crisis responders were available, matters under § 835a.
- Medical aid: officers reportedly rendered aid immediately, which investigators will confirm against the timeline.
If the evidence shows the shot was not necessary to prevent an imminent threat, Rodriguez’s heirs could bring excessive force, Bane Act and wrongful death claims. Damages include loss of the relationship, funeral expenses, his conscious pain before death through a survival claim, and punitive damages under § 1983.
Steps to Take After a Los Angeles County Police Shooting
According to use-of-force data that California agencies must report to the California Department of Justice, hundreds of incidents each year end in death or serious bodily injury, and a significant share involve a person perceived to be armed with something other than a firearm.
- Locate relatives: Rodriguez was believed to be homeless and no family statement has been reported; relatives should contact the Medical Examiner and an attorney promptly.
- Download the released video: save SMPD’s September 12 footage, note timestamps and request the unedited files from every officer’s camera.
- Find witnesses: Palisades Park was busy on a Saturday afternoon; people near the Broadway stairs or the Georgian Hotel may have cell phone video.
- Request records: Penal Code § 832.7 and the California Public Records Act cover the incident report, dispatch audio and prior use-of-force records.
- Track both reviews: the District Attorney decides on criminal charges and Internal Affairs on policy; neither review replaces an independent civil investigation.
Wrongful death and civil rights claims generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Because the City of Santa Monica is a public entity, a government claim must be presented within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating Los Angeles County Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Michael Rodriguez. How far was Rodriguez from the officer when the shot was fired, and did officers have room to retreat or use less-lethal tools? Was Rodriguez in a crisis that a different response might have de-escalated?
If you or a loved one has been affected by a police or deputy shooting anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on September 16, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on August 22, 2026.
