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Newly released body camera and surveillance footage shows a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy being stabbed within seconds of arriving at a call about an armed man before deputies opened fire, fatally shooting the suspect.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday released body camera and surveillance video from the June 20 incident in a Lancaster parking lot that left a deputy wounded and 23-year-old Robert Castro shot. Castro died after the shooting.
The incident began with a 911 caller reporting a man wielding multiple knives in public.
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“Hey, I just want to make a report of a guy with some knives … swinging them in public,” the caller told a dispatcher.
Body camera footage released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shows 23-year-old Robert Castro moments before authorities say he stabbed a sheriff’s deputy during a June 20 encounter in Lancaster, California. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
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The caller said Castro appeared to be “fighting with someone” while carrying a large knife and expressed concern after seeing him look toward a woman walking to a nearby bus stop.
Surveillance video shows deputies arriving with emergency lights activated as Castro walked across the parking lot while still armed.
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According to the sheriff’s department, Castro suddenly changed direction before the first deputy’s patrol vehicle had come to a stop, rushed toward the deputy, pulled a knife and stabbed him.
A still image from deputy body camera footage released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shows Robert Castro approaching an arriving deputy while holding what investigators say was one of three knives recovered at the scene. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
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The wounded deputy then drew his service weapon and opened fire.
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The deputy activated his body camera after firing his weapon, but the camera’s pre-event recording feature captured the 60 seconds leading up to the stabbing without audio.
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A second deputy’s body camera captured him arriving as the first deputy fired his weapon.
Surveillance video released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shows deputies arriving at the scene before investigators say Robert Castro suddenly charged toward an arriving deputy and stabbed him. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
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The video shows Castro on the ground as the deputy checked on his wounded colleague. When Castro moved one of his hands, the deputy repeatedly yelled, “Stop reaching,” before opening fire again.
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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department released images of two knives recovered after authorities say 23-year-old Robert Castro stabbed a sheriff’s deputy during a June 20 confrontation in Lancaster, California. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
Deputies rendered medical aid to Castro until Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel arrived. Castro was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities said Castro was armed with three knives, including the one investigators say he used to stab the deputy.
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The wounded deputy was hospitalized for treatment. No other deputies or civilians were injured.
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The California Department of Justice is investigating the shooting, as required under state law for officer-involved fatalities.
The sheriff’s department said it released the video before the investigation was complete “in the interest of transparency with the community we serve.”