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Takar Smith

Gender : Male

Age : 45

Race : Black

Date : 01/02/2023

Location : 200 block of S. Witmer Street

City : Westlake

County : Los Angeles

State : California

Agency : LAPD

Officer(s) :Joseph Zizzo, Nicolas Alejandre

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Smith’s wife went into an LAPD police station and asked for help because her husband was having a mental health crisis. When police arrived, they very aggressively tackled him in the apartment. He used a bike to defend himself, was tasered and per police report allegedly grabbed a knife while under attack and was shot and killed. The Police Commission ruled the shooting not to be justified. Criminal charges are pending.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/lapd-kills-knife-wielding-man-in-westlake/3065448/

https://www.newsweek.com/three-fatal-incidents-lapd-chief-deeply-concerned-1773393

https://www.dailynews.com/2023/01/11/la-police-chief-concerned-by-3-use-of-force-deaths-last-week/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/14/los-angeles-police-shoot-kill-takar-smith

https://atlantablackstar.com/2023/01/06/lapd-kills-mentally-ill-black-man/

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/family-of-father-killed-during-lapd-shooting-wants-justice/