Southern California pursuit ends in police shooting of suspect
Machete-wielding suspect in critical condition after leading officers on Southern California pursuit
Officers shot a machete-wielding man following a high-speed vehicle pursuit that prompted a medical centre lockdown in Southern California on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
PEOPLE reported that Long Beach Police Department officers responded to reports of a suspected driving under the influence and road rage incident involving an ambulance transporting a patient shortly after 10:00 a.m. NBC4 reported that a male suspect in his 40s was driving erratically before fleeing the scene, initiating a police chase. KTLA reported that the man eventually stopped his vehicle at an intersection near UCI Health in Los Alamitos and attempted to flee on foot while carrying a machete.
Long Beach Police Department personnel established a perimeter and deployed SWAT resources around the suspect. ABC7 reported that video footage captured the shirtless man pacing back and forth, swinging the machete, and shouting at law enforcement officers. Crisis negotiators attempted to convince the suspect to surrender peacefully without success. Officers subsequently deployed non-lethal weapons, but the measures failed to subdue him.
The suspect allegedly charged towards law enforcement officers while holding the machete, prompting officers to open fire. Long Beach Police Department officials confirmed an officer-involved shooting occurred involving an outside law enforcement agency, noting that no Long Beach personnel discharged their weapons. Emergency medical services transported the critically injured suspect to a local hospital for emergency care.
The standoff forced UCI Health in Los Alamitos to implement a precautionary lockdown for several hours due to its proximity to the scene. An official from the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the medical facility was not directly involved in the standoff or the shooting. Investigators have not released the suspect's identity, and the events leading to the initial road rage incident remain under active investigation by law enforcement authorities.
