Chilling bodycam footage shows knife-wielding madman charge at police in Santa Monica

Dramatic body-camera footage shows the terrifying moment Santa Monica police shot a man who charged at them wielding a knife as cops were investigating an unrelated incident.

In the video, two officers can be seen speaking with witnesses regarding a separate matter near the bustling Santa Monica Pier on Aug. 22 before they spot a man holding a serrated knife overhead and moving toward them.

Both officers begin shouting, “Put that down!” as the suspect continues to approach and the officers back away.

As the man is shown moving faster at police, one officer fires a single round into his chest, leading him to drop the knife, according to the footage.

An is then seen officer kicking the knife away from the suspect before administering CPR.

The man, identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner as 44-year-old Michael Rodriguez, later died at the hospital.

No officers or members of the public were injured. Police found two additional knives on Rodriguez, including one on his person and one in his backpack.

The knife the man was holding as he charged at officers had a hilt with a sharp, serrated edge similar to a combat knife.

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One knife in his backpack was sheathed and appeared similar. A second knife found in his pocket had a metal grip with holes and material wrapped around it.

It’s unclear why Rodriguez charged at officers.

Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob released a statement about the department’s responsibility to be transparent about the incident.

“Our officers answer calls for help knowing the circumstances can change in an instant. On August 22, they encountered an armed individual while assisting with an unrelated call,” Jacob said.

“I recognize the lasting impact an incident like this can have on the officers and personnel who responded, and they have my support. When a life is lost during a police encounter, our responsibility to provide a clear and open account is especially important. Releasing this video is an important step in providing that account to our community,” he added.

Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis praised the officers’ response to the incident.

“I am grateful for the courage our officers showed in the face of an armed threat and for
the lifesaving efforts that followed,” Torosis said.

“Our officers are part of this community, and violence against them puts everyone around us at risk. Their safety is inseparable from the safety of the people they serve. The officers and personnel who responded that day deserve our gratitude and support for their bravery, compassion, and commitment to Santa Monica,” she added.

Several investigations — including an officer-involved shooting review from the Los Angele County District Attorney’s Office, an internal Santa Monica Police Department inquiry, and a criminal investigation into the incident — remain ongoing.