A 27-year-old Brea man shot and killed during an encounter with Fullerton police in June wanted to die by “suicide by cop,” authorities said in a critical incident video released on Monday, July 15.
On June 15, a 911 caller reported that a man armed with two knives was acting dangerously by a set of railroad tracks along the 200 block of East Imperial Highway, near Mervyn’s Drive, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
“He seems like he’s very dangerous and mentally ill,” the caller told dispatchers.
The caller also told dispatch that the man had pointed that knife at people passing by.
The video can be viewed here. As a warning, it includes graphic content.
Arriving officers found a man matching the suspect description holding a kitchen knife in one hand and a green box cutter in the other while pacing back and forth, Sgt. Ryan O’Neil said in the video.
A 27-year-old Brea man shot and killed during a standoff with Fullerton police in June wanted to die by suicide by cop, authorities said in a critical incident video released on Monday, July 15. He was armed with a kitchen knife in one hand and a green box cutter when he was shot by police. (Courtesy of Fullerton Police Department)
He was identified as Lorenzo Roger Hills III.
Hills was ordered to drop the knives multiple times, but refused to do so.
“Drop the knife, buddy. We don’t want to hurt you,” one officer says in the body-worn camera footage.
The man then charged towards police, with four officers firing at the suspect, O’Neil said. A fifth officer had a less-than-lethal sponge gun launcher and fired a 40-millimeter sponge round at him.
Hills was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Fullerton police investigate the scene after at least one officer shot at a knife-wielding suspect in the 200 block of East Imperial Highway Saturday morning, June 15. (OC Hawk)
A phone registered to Hills was found at the scene, and was later determined by authorities to be the phone that was used to place the initial 911 call.
“Based on the fact Mr. Hills called the Fullerton Police Department to report a male who matched his own description, who was brandishing knives, and whose actions ultimately led to the officer-involved shooting, it is believed that Mr. Hills intentionally provoked a deadly police encounter,” O’Neil said in the video.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or struggling with mental health issues, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (or just by dialing 988) to speak with a counselor.
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