South Atlantic Boulevard near the 60 Freeway: Monterey Park Officers Shoot a Man Police Say Was Armed With a Knife
EAST LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 22, 2026): A man was wounded in a Monterey Park police shooting on South Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, according to the Monterey Park Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), which is investigating. Officers had responded to a call about an attempted kidnapping suspect armed with a knife in the 200 block of South Atlantic Boulevard, north of the Pomona (60) Freeway, the police department said in a statement reported by City News Service.
Officers found a man who matched the description and tried to make contact, the department said. “The suspect was armed with a knife and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” according to the statement. Monterey Park Fire Department personnel treated the man, who was taken to a hospital, and police said Friday that he was in stable condition. No officers were hurt, the LASD told NBC Los Angeles.
The shooting happened near Pomona and Atlantic boulevards, close to the Monterey Park border, and deputies from the LASD East Los Angeles Station responded to assist, NBC Los Angeles reported. The man has not been identified, and authorities have not said whether he has been charged. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Anyone who saw the shooting can call the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or the LASD Information Bureau at 213-229-1700. Anonymous tips can go to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Authorities have not said how many officers fired, how many times the man was struck, what he was doing with the knife when the shots were fired, whether officers tried other options first, or whether body-worn cameras recorded the encounter. They also have not described the reported kidnapping attempt or said whether anyone else was hurt. This is the department’s account, and the full sequence has not been independently reviewed. These are early accounts. Fault is determined by investigators and, in civil cases, by the courts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for an East Los Angeles Police Shooting
California Penal Code § 835a allows a peace officer to use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a person whose constitutional rights are violated by someone acting under government authority can generally bring a civil claim, including for unreasonable force under the Fourth Amendment. California’s Bane Act, Civil Code § 52.1, also allows a civil action when someone interferes with constitutional rights by threats, intimidation or coercion.
- A knife and the distance: Whether a person with a knife posed an imminent threat usually depends on facts such as distance, movement and whether the person was moving toward anyone. Police have not described those details.
- What happened before the shots: In Hayes v. County of San Diego (2013), the California Supreme Court held that officers’ tactical decisions before a shooting can be part of a negligence claim, along with the shooting itself.
- Two agencies: Monterey Park officers fired, and the LASD is investigating. Any criminal review of a shooting is separate from a civil claim, which uses a different standard of proof.
- Video of the encounter: Recordings from body-worn cameras, nearby businesses and passing drivers can show the distance, the commands given and the timing of the shots.
These are general principles of California and federal law, not conclusions about this shooting, which remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Steps to Take After a Police Shooting in East Los Angeles
When a person is hurt in a police shooting, the family often has questions long before the investigating agency has answers. These steps can help:
- Ask who is investigating: Here the LASD Homicide Bureau is investigating a shooting by Monterey Park officers. Ask both agencies for a contact person and a report number.
- Request records in writing: Under Penal Code § 832.7, certain records about officer shootings can be requested from the agency. Make the request in writing as soon as possible and keep a copy.
- Save witness video: Anyone who recorded Atlantic Boulevard near the 60 Freeway on Thursday evening should keep the original file and share it with investigators or an attorney.
- Keep medical records: Keep hospital records, discharge papers and the names of every provider. They document the injuries and the treatment.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the Monterey Park Police Shooting
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, are thinking of the man who was wounded and of his family. Two questions remain open: how far was the man from the officers, and was he moving toward anyone when the shots were fired? And did body-worn cameras record what happened on Atlantic Boulevard?
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 October 23, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 22, 2026.
