Police Shoot, Kill Man Armed With Builder's Level

The man died at the scene, both officers suffered moderate injuries in the Van Nuys confrontation.

Police fatally shot a man who allegedly used a 4-foot builder's level to assault one of the officers Thursday night in Van Nuys, according to the LAPD.

Officers responded to a dispute involving neighbors around 11:30 p.m. in the 14600 block of Valerio Street, police said. Residents in the area complained that squatters were living in the abandoned home.

At some point, an altercation ensued between the officers and a subject identified only as a homeless man in his 30s. The man allegedly grabbed what was initially described as a "hard object" and struck the officer in the head and shoulders.

Police later identified the object as a metal builder's level, a tool used to determine whether a surface is level.

The attacker was then shot by police, according to the LAPD. It was not immediately clear how many officers opened fire or how many rounds were fired.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both of the officers involved in the altercation suffered moderate injuries. They were released from the hospital later Friday morning.

The officers were not equipped with body cameras, devices that the department will roll out in phases. Officers at the Mission Division will be the first to get training on the cameras, followed by officers at the Newton Division on Sept. 15 and the Central traffic and specialized divisions on Sept. 28, LAPD Chief Information Officer Maggie Goodrich told the Police Commission.

Contact Us