A 36-year-old Sikh man, identified as Gurpreet Singh, was fatally shot by Los Angeles police on July 13 after allegedly wielding a large blade and refusing repeated commands to surrender.
According to the LAPD, Singh was seen near Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, performing Gatka — a traditional Sikh martial art — while brandishing what police initially described as a machete. The weapon was later identified as a khanda, a double-edged sword commonly used in Sikh martial traditions.
Incident timeline
Police said they received multiple 911 calls reporting a man swinging a large blade at pedestrians at the intersection of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard. Singh had allegedly abandoned his vehicle in the road and, at one point, appeared to attempt self-harm by slicing his tongue.
When officers approached, Singh reportedly hurled a bottle at them and then attempted to flee in his vehicle. A pursuit followed, ending when Singh collided with a police vehicle near Figueroa and 12th Streets. At that point, officers say he exited his car, charged at them with the blade, and was shot.
Aftermath and investigation
Singh was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries. Police recovered the two-foot-long weapon at the scene. No civilians or officers were injured.
The LAPD has released body-camera footage of the confrontation. The incident is under investigation, as is standard protocol in police shootings.