Zimran Canas: A family’s 911 mental health call on Gillette Street ended with LAPD officers opening fire
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (September 7, 2026): Zimran Canas died on Labor Day morning after Los Angeles Police Department officers shot him outside his residence in the 600 block of Gillette Street in Boyle Heights, according to the LAPD. Police said officers were called at about 9:55 a.m. to a report of a violent man with mental illness armed with a metal pipe, and that a family member had called 911 and directed officers to him, ABC7 reported. According to the LAPD account released the next day, Canas came out of a front gate holding an approximately 8-foot pole with a 12-inch serrated blade attached, described as a pole saw, did not comply with commands to drop it and advanced toward an officer with the blade pointed at him, and at least one officer fired.
LAPD said officers rendered medical aid before Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived, and Canas was pronounced dead at a hospital, MyNewsLA reported. The pole and blade were booked as evidence. His age has not been released. ABC7 reported that the investigation will include any body-worn video and that the LAPD Force Investigation Division and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will review the shooting; the Board of Police Commissioners and the Inspector General also review LAPD uses of deadly force. LAPD told The Eastsider the investigation was in its early stages with multiple witnesses to interview. No family or community statements had been reported as of September 8.
Liability for Los Angeles County Police Shootings
The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable seizures, and Graham v. Connor (1989) 490 U.S. 386 measures force against what a reasonable officer would do. California Penal Code § 835a permits deadly force only when necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 allows claims against the officers and, under Monell v. Department of Social Services (1978) 436 U.S. 658, against the City of Los Angeles for a policy or training failure. The Bane Act, California Civil Code § 52.1, adds a state claim.
- Mental health response: whether LAPD sent its Mental Evaluation Unit or crisis-trained officers to a call that reported mental illness, and whether dispatchers relayed that information.
- Time and distance: investigators will measure where Canas and the officer stood when the shots were fired and how much room officers had to back away.
- Less-lethal options: whether officers had a beanbag shotgun, a Taser or a 40-millimeter launcher on scene and whether they attempted to use them.
- Number of officers firing: LAPD said at least one officer fired; the exact number of shots and shooters will be in the Force Investigation Division report.
The family’s claims are excessive force, wrongful death and the Bane Act, with damages for loss of companionship and support, funeral costs, and, through a survival claim, the pain Canas suffered before death. Section 1983 adds punitive damages against individual officers and attorney’s fees.
Steps to Take After a Los Angeles County Police Shooting
According to the Los Angeles Police Department’s own annual use-of-force reports, a substantial share of the people involved in LAPD officer-involved shootings each year were perceived to be experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Preserve the 911 recording: the family member’s call and the dispatch broadcast show what officers knew before arriving on Gillette Street; request them under the California Public Records Act.
- Identify neighbors with video: homes and businesses between Bridge Street and Prospect Park may have doorbell or security cameras that captured the gate and the street.
- Request body camera footage: LAPD policy releases critical incident video within 45 days; Penal Code § 832.7 also makes it a public record.
- Consult an attorney before interviews: Force Investigation Division detectives will interview the family; relatives may have counsel present.
- Attend the Police Commission review: the Board of Police Commissioners and the Inspector General publish findings on tactics and the decision to fire; the family can attend and comment.
Civil rights and wrongful death claims in California generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Because the City of Los Angeles 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 Zimran Canas. Did officers know they were responding to a mental health crisis, and did they use the available time and distance to de-escalate before firing? Were less-lethal tools on scene, and were they attempted before deadly force?
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 September 7, 2026.
