INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Authorities today identified a man who was fatally shot by Inglewood police after he allegedly smashed the windows of eight squad cars with a sword in a police station parking lot.
The shooting occurred Saturday night, after the man damaged the vehicles using a sword that was thicker and heavier than a machete, police said. The dead man was identified as Charles Curl, 46, of Los Angeles, coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said.
“The officer saw that the suspect had already broken the windows of several police vehicles and he was utilizing a large bladed weapon to vandalize the police vehicles,” according to Inglewood police Sgt. Nelson Arriaga. “The officer immediately summoned additional officers for assistance.
“As the officer attempted to contact the suspect, the armed suspect charged the officer in a threatening manner, and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Arriaga said. “The suspect sustained a single gunshot wound to his upper torso.”
Police said the man’s motive was unclear.
