The area surrounding a famous restaurant in a large shopping mall in Cerritos, was thrown into turmoil after a man wielding a knife went on a rampage and was shot dead by another customer.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), at approximately 2p.m. on the 19th of July a man armed with a knife entered Lucil’s Smokehouse BBQ, located on South Street in Cerritos, and threatened staff and diners. A customer present at the time, who was legally carrying a firearm, demanded that the man drop the knife. However, when the man lunged at the customer while still holding the knife, the customer fired their weapon.
According to the LASD, the man who was shot received emergency medical treatment at the scene but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The customer who fired the shots remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Preliminary police investigations indicate that the incident began before the man entered the restaurant. LASD officials stated that it appears the man drove away in a stolen truck, abandoned it, inflicted self-harm with a weapon at a Starbucks near South Street, and then headed to a restaurant.
Magali Zakarias, a witness working nearby, told ABC7 in an interview that she saw the man driving recklessly before running into the restaurant. “The driver drove recklessly into the shopping centre, abandoned the car, and ran toward Lucilles,” Zakarias said. “He was holding a knife and appeared to be already injured.” She added, “When I looked closely at the vehicle, there was blood on the steering wheel and all over the interior.”
A restaurant employee stated, “I saw a man who appeared to have slit his throat running into the restaurant holding a knife. He entered the main dining area where customers were, aimed a gun at another customer, and fired when the man continued to walk toward him despite being told to put the knife down.”
Multiple police officers responded to the scene, and the area around the restaurant, located in a large shopping centre near the 605 Freeway, was cordoned off while the investigation was conducted. Police questioned witnesses and restaurant staff. According to the LASD, an off-duty officer was also present at the scene and witnessed the shooting but did not fire a gun himself.
Police have not released the identity of the man killed in the shooting, nor have they revealed the exact motive for the crime or why he headed to the restaurant after self-inflicting wounds with a weapon. It was confirmed that the customer who fired the shots possessed a valid concealed carry permit. Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident with this customer.