A 27-year-old Orange County man was shot dead by police last month in what appears to have been an intentional ploy to get officers to open fire on him, authorities announced Monday.
The June 15 incident began just after 5 a.m. when Fullerton Police Department dispatchers received a 911 call from a person reporting a male suspect armed with a knife who was threatening people in the 200 block of East Imperial Highway.
“The reporting party told the call taker he was a victim of weapon brandishing and to send multiple officers due to the male’s dangerous behavior,” a FPD news release stated.
At the scene, officers located a man armed with what appeared to be two knives that matched the suspect description.
In body-worn camera footage released by authorities, officers are seen telling the man, later identified as Brea resident Lorenzo Roger Hills III, to drop the weapons.
When Hills failed to obey, one of the officers is heard in the footage saying, “Hey, have that 40 ready,” presumably referring to a less-lethal weapon that fires 40mm sponge rounds that was carried by another officer at the scene.
The body-worn video then shows Hills turn and charge the officers, prompting the same officer heard earlier to yell, “Stop, stop, stop. 40!”
Four officers fired lethal rounds at the 27-year-old, two of them from rifles and two from handguns, police said. Another officer simultaneously fired a less-lethal 40mm sponge round.
Hills was taken into custody while officers attempted life saving measures and requested medical personnel from the Fullerton Fire Department for assistance. He was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Two weapons were recovered at the scene: a box cutter and what appears to be a small kitchen paring knife.
During their investigation, police learned that the cellphone used to make the 911 call was registered to Hills.
“Based on the fact Mr. Hills called the Fullerton Police Department to report a male — who matched his own description — was brandishing knives and whose actions ultimately led to the officer-involved shooting, it is believed Mr. Hills intentionally provoked a deadly police encounter, commonly referred to as ‘suicide-by-cop,’” the release stated.
Fullerton Police Department Chief Jon Radus provided Hills’ family the opportunity to view the body-worn evidence prior to its release.
An independent investigation into the police shooting is being conducted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.