By Joanna Putman
Police1
LANCASTER, Calif. — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has released body camera footage of a Feb. 6 officer-involved shooting of a machete-wielding man who threatened officers.
The video begins by showing surveillance footage of Jonathan Scott Foster, 38, breaking the glass door of a convenience store and pointing a machete at the cashier. He can be seen approaching the clerk and swinging the machete at them, hitting them in the hand. The cashier then fled the store.
Deputies responded to the store but did not find Foster inside, according to the release. Neighboring businesses were asked to call 911 if anyone matching Foster’s description was spotted nearby.
Later in the morning, deputies were alerted that someone matching the description and carrying a machete was seen at a nearby grocery store. Deputies responded to the store and encountered Foster at the entrance.
Click below to see full video.
Upon seeing the deputies, Foster pulled out the machete and another large knife, body camera video shows. After deputies drew their service weapons and instructed Foster to set the knife down, he attempted to negotiate, saying that the deputies had pointed guns at him first.
The deputies spoke with Foster for several minutes and asked the store employee who had come out to meet them to radio into the store and tell shoppers to hunker down.
Foster refused to put the machetes down and eventually backed up into the store. The deputy speaking with Foster replaced his gun with a TASER as deputies followed Foster, still shuffling backwards, moving through the store.
As Foster continued to move through the store, deputies deployed TASERs at him three times and shot him with several less lethal projectiles, which were rendered less effective by a large coat Foster was wearing.
After the third TASER deployment attempt, Foster charged deputies with the machete raised. Three deputies discharged their service weapons, striking Foster several times, according to the release.
Deputies rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived at the scene, according to the release. Foster was taken to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.