LAPD releases body camera footage of fatal shooting of man holding plastic fork

36-year-old Jason Lee Maccani was shot and killed by an LAPD officer on Feb. 3.

The Los Angeles Police Department released body camera footage Tuesday that shows a police officer shooting and killing a man who charged at him while holding a plastic fork earlier this month.

The Feb. 3 incident that killed 36-year-old Jason Lee Maccani is under investigation by the state Department of Justice, according to Police Chief Michel Moore, who told the Police Commission last week he had "concerns relative to the actions of the officer involved."

Authorities were called to the 800 block of East 7th Street, near the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, on Feb. 3 around 2:20 p.m., local time, according to Captain Kelly Muniz.

Muniz notes that a business owner at a warehouse in the area called police after a man was allegedly threatening employees with a stick. He was believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident, Muniz said.

In the 911 audio released Tuesday, the business owner said the suspect was "getting aggressive."

When authorities arrived, Maccani went into an office on the fourth floor of the warehouse where he had access to "sharp objects," the business owner told police, according to Muniz.

In security footage released by LAPD, six officers are seen approaching the office where Maccani had retreated. Police say they gave "verbal commands" for Maccani to exit the location with his hands raised.

Officers then ordered Maccani to turn around and walk backward toward them, according to Muniz. Maccani initially complied but then turned and "charged" toward the officers, Muniz said.

One of the officers observed Maccani holding what he believed to be a screwdriver and deployed a less-lethal 40mm projectile launcher at Maccani and another officer fired two rounds of a beanbag shotgun at him, Muniz said, but noted the less-lethal methods were not effective.

Maccani continued to advance toward the officers and made contact with one of the officers, grabbing the beanbag shotgun, according to Muniz.

Maccani was then shot by another officer's gunfire, taken to the ground, and taken to the hospital where he later died, according to Muniz.

The object initially believed to be a screwdriver or knife turned out to be a white plastic fork.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/lapd-releases-body-camera-footage-fatal-shooting-man/story?id=107377228

Family of man shot, killed by LAPD while holding plastic fork files claim seeking $20 million

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The family of a man shot and killed by Los Angeles police while holding a plastic fork announced on Friday the filing of a $20 million damages claim against the department.

Jason Maccani, 36, was shot the afternoon of Feb. 3 inside a warehouse in the Skid Row area at Towne Avenue and 7th Street.

LAPD released bodycam video of the shooting this week, which shows Maccani being confronted by seven police officers in a corridor of the building.

After initially complying with commands, footage shows Maccani drop his hands and move toward officers. A close-up of Maccani's hand shows him clutching an object that the officers said they thought was a knife.

In the video, two less-lethal rounds being fired can be heard, followed by one handgun round.

"The suspect continued to advance toward the officers with the object still clenched in his right hand," LAPD said in a statement on Feb. 4. "The suspect grabbed one of the officers and the Beanbag Shotgun she was holding, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting."

Maccani was given CPR and pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The object in his hand was later determined to be a white plastic fork.

Officers responded to the area after receiving a call of a man armed with a stick who was reportedly intoxicated and threatening employees at the business.

The wrongful death claim alleges police had no good reason to shoot Maccani. Attorneys for Maccani's family say the plastic fork did not resemble a knife and that Maccani "never got close to taking possession of the officer's clearly marked beanbag shotgun."

The L.A. City Attorney's Office declined to comment on the family's pending litigation.

Maccani graduated from UCLA with a mechanical engineering degree, but recently worked as a yoga instructor and Uber driver.

Maccani's brother Michael Maccani believes Jason was diagnosed as bipolar and suffered occasional episodes.

"He had access to mental health resources, but it doesn't stop those episodes from happening, and it shouldn't result in a death sentence," Michael Maccani said.

https://abc7.com/lapd-man-with-fork-killed-la-police-shooting-skid-row/14463305/

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