A 41-year old man with a machete who was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies in the Florence-Firestone area was identified by Los Angeles County authorities Thursday.
Deputies were called to a business in the 9100 block of Graham Avenue at about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday on reports of a man armed with a machete attempting to assault employees, according to Deputy Veronica Rodriguez of the LA County Sheriff’s Department.
Upon arriving at the scene, two deputies were told the suspect, identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office as Agustine Flores, had left the business and walked southbound toward 92nd Street. They found Flores seated in the cab of a white pickup and attempted to make contact with him, but Flores allegedly punched and kicked the deputies before retrieving the machete from inside the truck.
“The male swung the machete and walked toward the deputies who utilized less lethal weaponry in an attempt to subdue him,” according to the LASD. “The male continued to advance toward the deputies and a deputy-involved shooting occurred.”
Flores was pronounced dead at the scene.
The two deputies were treated for minor injuries sustained in the altercation.
Anyone with information on the incident was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.